Student-athletes spend much of their time training their bodies to compete, but mental health is just as important.

Cleveland State University recognizes that message, and on Sunday, Oct. 11, about 30 student-athletes from different sports gathered for a Wellness Walk focused on raising awareness and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health.

The event was held in connection with Student-Athlete Mental Health Week, an annual initiative organized by Hilinzki’s Hope Foundation that encourages colleges and universities nationwide to expand mental health resources and remind student-athletes they are not alone.

“I think that mental health is something that gets overlooked a lot, especially in athletics,” said Dominik Cosic, a senior information systems and technology major on the men’s golf team and president of the CSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). “It was important for us to kind of create an environment where we can all kind of get together and, you know, show support.”

Because of the threat of bad weather, the athletes walked laps around the outside of the Wolstein Center at CSU instead of gathering at the originally planned location at Edgewater Beach House.

Before the walk began, Lena Harris, CSU’s athletic counselor, thanked attendees for participating and briefly spoke about the importance of mental health. Mental health pamphlets and stress-relief items were also available for student-athletes.
 

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Olivia Cruz, a senior health science major on the women’s soccer team and SAAC Student-Athlete Health & Performance officer, said the walk also helped build relationships among athletes from different teams.

“Everyone goes through something,” Cruz said. “You’re not alone in this; you have so much support that you might not even realize at first."

Cruz said bringing student-athletes together creates opportunities for them to connect with others who may have similar experiences or face different challenges.

Harris, who is entering her third full year as CSU’s athletic counselor, said anxiety and pressure to perform are some of the most common challenges she sees in student-athletes.
 

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“The biggest thing that I see is a lot of anxiety, pressure to perform, pressure on self,” Harris said. “So just trying to help them navigate and help them understand that it’s OK not to hit the mark every time.”

Harris said mental health support is important because its effects extend beyond an athlete’s college career. 

“It’s bigger than sport, so it’s helping them for after sport as well,” Harris said.

CSU student-athletes have access to several mental health resources, including Harris, the university’s Counseling Center and services through Cleveland Clinic. Harris said those resources include a sports psychologist, a psychiatrist and a team physician.

Harris said events like the Wellness Walk can raise awareness, reduce stigma and remind student-athletes they don’t have to navigate challenges alone.

“Everybody needs someone,” Harris said.