Athletes and Mental Health: The Hidden Opponent | Victoria Garrick | TEDxUSC
The issue of mental health in college students, specifically college student-athletes, is stigmatized and neglected. According to a 2011 study by the National College Athletic Association, 30% of about 200,000 student-athletes reported feeling depressed. 50% also claimed to have experienced overwhelming anxiety, and this information is six years out of date. Student-athletes are typically praised as celebrities on campus, considered strong and brave. When we walk by and people cheer, “Great win last night,” they can’t see that we are struggling with issues incurable by their praise and affirmation. We minimize the effects of our depression, anxiety, or eating disorder, because society does not encourage us to come forward. Student-athletes endure five hours of team commitment daily, 18 hours of class weekly, and the pressure to physically perform no matter what the circumstance. You can’t see mental health issues like you can see an ankle sprain.
From Atherton, California, Victoria Garrick is a rising Junior libero for the USC Women’s Indoor Volleyball team. Both freshman and sophomore year, Victoria started and played in every match for the Women of Troy, who won the Pac-12 Championship in 2015. During a difficult freshman year, learning how to be a Division I athlete as well a Dean’s List student, she dealt with situational depression, anxiety, and a binge-eating disorder. By seeing a sports psychologist at USC every week, Victoria was able to learn how to manage her mental health issues, as well as regain normal eating habits. However, she is very concerned about other athletes like her who do not have the confidence to seek help, or learn how to manage their chaotic lives. One of Victoria’s missions in her final two years of college is to help others by sharing her experience.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
21 Comments
I come from Al-Dahih, and my truth is that the art of indifference is great
I’m a high school tennis player and ever since I decided I wanted to play D1 in college my performance has absolutely tanked. I used to be a fighter on the court but now I can barely win games. I lose matches to people I should easily beat. I don’t have fun when playing matches anymore but i don’t want to quit either because i know i have talent and i’m in really good shape.
I dont usually comment on videos but this one hit home. 1. This is a very important conversation and well done her for speaking up. 2. I believe we cant solve a mental health crisis with drugs and labels; talking to someone and being given a label that you have this, that, disorder and taking drug A, B, C (and maybe D to offset the side effect of A) might get you through the game season but ultimately perpetuates the philosophy of inhumane competition that will continue to effect athlete and other high performance sectors unless there is a structural change in the way well being and time are valued. Btw i am speaking from a place of experience but also privilege: I gave up a competitive sport and burned out in an academic context due to similar issues as she stated. Being diagnosed with several things il keep to myself was helpful but the only way to actuarially change way to remove myself from the environment. I had the privilege to be able to do this without jeopardising my financial circumstance. Even so, I am hunted by the past have lost years of life from the process of attempting to continue to live, a prospect did not think I deserved unless I kept up with a list of expectations I know consider but unnecessary and inhumane. Rant over but please feel free to rant back.
Preparing for my TEDx talk next week, and watching this for inspiration. Victoria, you are an inspiration!
Coming from a father of 2 student-athletes, one a freshman and the other a junior…..great job. Such a great 21 mins of reality. Sad thing is this TEDx was 5 years ago. In 2023 the awareness is better then ever but I will admit most schools have no idea how to address this. Or the people they assign to help really arent "specialist" they are yes people with ideas you can find on google but it checks the box. I do not expect Coaches to understand this unless they personally went through it. If not their answer is going to be "fix it" "get help" not b/c they are bad people but b/c they don't understand. Coaches do love their players but this is overwhelming for most…They are polite about it but as a D1 student on scholorship its too difficult for kids and parents to walk away from the opportunity. On a positive note I will say with a lot of work, money, love, and effort that kids can be helped…note IF you even know there is an issue. I know, personally, trust me. Great Job Victoria and parents don't get blindsided…
good morning how many sports athlete in this comment..check any replies looks like cricket injury how many to lady hockey or yatching couch*-up on long sailing to stays on sea with a pesonnal assistant if u can affird that on a checking account in a cheque account american emigrated to south african or a british cheque in south africa grey market should i ssay u are 41yrs now lady who is your bodyguard…how many two..and a gardner cleaner how do u seperate specialy a pop up on that area once a week why…
I’ve been following Victoria on social media for years but hadn’t seen her ted talk until now; i also played D1 volleyball, played pro and on the national team; out of all my years in the sport, the hardest was playing in college. Having been had a scholarship, the pressure was at an all time high. I played for a D1 school in california, we were top 10 two years in a row— but our coach was an antagonistic, manipulative, controlling, unempathetic, and frankly mentally abusivo person; he scapegoating me and one other player, constantly turning the team against each other. It was horrific. I cried everyday; he threatened to take away my scholarship daily, and actively discouraged using the sports psychologist provided by the athletic department. When we filed complaints to the AD and the president of the school, nothing was done because our program was the best in the school. I was so confused because the old school athletic mentality was “when a coach says jump, you say ‘how high’?”, so i thought i was supposed to just work harder, but nothing was ever enough— it was like being in an abusive relationship. I ended up walking away from my scholarship my senior year, the saddest but best decision i ever made. My grades sky-rocketed and i got on the dean’s list; i had TIME for anything i wanted…the first time in my life, it was foreign to me. I’m so thankful to Victoria for giving a voice to this issue. She’s inspired me to speak about my experience with the goal of speaking at a Ted Talk one day.
If college sports was easy everybody would do it. Weed out the weak.
even though i am only in high school i have been constantly on the verge of breaking down this year. i play volleyball representatively as well as for school and a local club. i train 4 times a week and play once a week. on top of this i am training for track and field season in which i am training 3 times a week. i also have to find time to manage my schoolwork as for those of you in Asutralia i am doing ATAR and am trying to go to university. last month i tore my hamstring and all of this work that i was putting in, all of these struggles to perform under the weight of not only school but sport seemed to be stripped away from me. the motivation this video gave me and the reassurance that i know i needed has left me feeling less stressed and has helped me now focus on what i need to do to care for myself
4 years later, not much has changed unfortunately
I’m from Buffalo. I was 9 years old when the skate incident happened. My father was watching it live on TV. It’s remarkable Clint survived. So glad he did!
Wow! What an incredible and important message! Thanks for your courage to share and the work you put it to make it a compelling story. I'm on board and will share further.
Boohoo. Try doing 5 college classes a semester, starting a side business and serving in the military in an Infantry unit being responsible for 8 peoples lives in combat situations and live fire trainings. going to training 4 days a month, going on deployments and always having to be ready to deploy at a moments notice and drop everything in life at that moment. You play sports. Get a reality check.
This is one of the best things I’ve ever listen to!
oh my god this is so true
Great job!
Hello alfaisal!
Two ways I found doing topic. I trained pro bodybuilding maybe age close to 20. 100% of it is psychological working on the body. Otherwise, can't sell one's own style. Training pro talk close to no verbal conversation. Worked on my head on that way. Get least 2-hour a day schedule going since showing up not rattling on all day with my mouth. Also, eventually year or two get own style. 2nd way Pro 2b Powerlifting since 2022 just showing up. 1st method works best. That way to have no problems showing up in the first place is close to no verbal conversation. Anybody can train eventually train pro that way. Some conversation year or two along after going.
This really spoke to me as I suffer from mental health issues as well. In the beginning I thought it was normal and I was just a little less energetic and it will be okay. After some months I had an mental breakdown with my dad in the car when he was bringing me to school and I was really ashamed. I told him I was feeling a little down lately and it might have somethig to do wjth the many trainings I had for tennis. He told me many athletes struggle with such issues and it might be good to train less and give up on topsport, and I was shocked to hear him say that. I started to think about it and the 6 months after that conversation werent fun and I didnt enjoy my tennis trainings. I decided to stop playing tennis in the national team, but my parents didnt like that I made this decision, because they thoufht I was "throwing away all the hours and money invested and all I have reached until now." We had some arguments and I started seeing a therapist which I think is helpful. Now, it is a few months after the decision I quit the national team, but I am afraid I might regret it later and I sometimes feel weak because I gave up on topsport. That is in the long run. For now I am happy I dont train as much, but I still feel much pressure during tournaments (which I still play, but less) and I think I should improve my own positive thinking instead of quitting the national team, thinking my mental health will heal. On one side, giving up on tennis in the national team feels like losing and failing, but on the other hand, I do feel a bit better now (not like what it used to be but i hope Im still improving) and for now it has helped me.
I might as well put my thoughts here. I am a footballer in Europe. Football as a sport has always been the means of braking out of poverty and crime. It is true that anyone can compete, from the kids who got nothing, just the endless hours of play to the kids who are at the best clubs, gyms and pitches with all the facilities. It is difficult for everybody. The well off who do it for respect or for the city and the unfortunate who are chasing a way out of poverty. I would do anything to get out of where I am and I can do it through what I love. I just wish you best of luck and remember that at the end of the day it's up to you! If you don't love the hustle why bother?
We watched this in class today and I broke down so hard in front of everyone this is how I always feel and it sucks