Social Media Helping Athletes Give a Voice to Mental Health
Every game, every practice, and even in the offseason, athletes are under a lot of pressure. This pressure comes from a variety of sources – fans, coaches, teammates, analysts, and even family.
Despite the glitz and glamor typically associated with the modern athlete, being an athlete is arguably one of the most stressful jobs in today’s society. This pressure has only been compounded by social media. It can be said that athletes and social media have a love-hate relationship. It gives disgruntled fans an opportunity to attack those they felt should have performed better. At the same time, however, social media also gives athletes a platform to build their own brand, cultivate a more intimate relationship with fans, and speak up about issues they feel are important.
One of these issues is mental health. The rise of social media and the 24/7 sports coverage, criticism, and analysis on it has made the topic of athletes and mental health issues an increasingly popular one, especially during the Winter Olympics.
While athletes and social media will probably continue to have a love-hate relationship, there is no denying the power they have to raise awareness of issues like mental health that affect everyone, regardless of their profession.
Social media giving athletes a voice
Up until recently, fans could only watch their favorite athletes when games were televised and read about them in the paper. They seldom got to hear from them directly. Social media changed all that. It gave athletes a voice to share their thoughts, opinions, feelings, dedication, sacrifices, and life directly with fans. Conversely, fans can now interact with their favorite super stars like never before.
Fans have always wanted to engage with their favorite athletes, and social media gives them opportunities to do so. Social media platforms offer more connectivity between athletes and fans, both positive and negative. Today, athletes and social media define the sports world, with many fans and analysts poring over an athlete’s post to try and determine what it could mean – are they hinting they want to be traded? Are they unhappy with the organization? Will they be back from injury in time for the playoffs?
Prior to social media, the topic of athletes and mental health issues was something few people thought about.
Perhaps prompted by the increased pressure athletes felt from the social media world, many began to open up more about mental health issues, and the world saw the power of athletes and social media to spark important conversations and positive change.
Pivoting the conversation about sports and mental health
For the longest time, fans would only hear athletes talk about their on-field/court experiences. Yet, athletes are much more than their physical gifts. As New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis puts it, “We're three-part beings: We're spiritual, mental, physical.” Obviously, an athlete’s physical health is important, but so is their mental health. There is much more than the physical side to athletes, and social media helped them express other aspects of themselves and shifted the conversations they had with fans and media away from sports to other things. Athletes and mental health issues are probably the most pervasive of these topics.
While the phenomenon of athletes and social media is best illustrated by athletes from younger generations like Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and tennis phenom Naomi Osaka, older athletes like NBA champion Kevin Love, Olympic icon Michael Phelps, and National Soccer Hall of Famer Abby Wambach have also spoken out about mental health.
Examples of athletes speaking out
One of the most high-profile athletes to discuss mental health is Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. In 2020, Prescott detailed the anxiety and depression that plagued him in the aftermath of his brother’s suicide, which coincided with his mother battling cancer. In an interview with NFL.com, Prescott said, “I think that is important to be vulnerable, to be genuine and to be transparent.”
Prescott encouraged more people to talk about mental health.
“I think it's huge to talk. I think it's huge to get help. And it saves lives.” In addition to writing “Ask 4 Help!” on a wristband he wore in a game, Prescott also started the Faith, Fight, and Finish Foundation to help others through adversity and find strength.
Another NFL star, Tennessee Titans wide receiver AJ Brown, has also opened up about his own mental health issues. Brown posted a video where he talked about his experiences with anxiety and depression, later saying in a press conference that he posted the video to encourage others to speak up and not just brush off mental health issues.
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