College Athlete Suicide
Nicole Parker 24' Sports Editor
Last year, you could find James Madison University’s catcher, Lauren Bernett behind the plate during the 2021 Women’s College World Series. Bernett was seen smiling and jumping up and down after a game-winning, diving tag by pitcher Odicci Alexander, which went viral. This year, JMU softball cancelled its season early following Bernett’s suicide. Bernett is just one of the five NCAA Division I athletes who have commited suicide in the past three months. The alarming number of suicides has raised questions about the intense pressure college athletes are under and what can be done to help.
University of Wisconsin track runner Sarah Shulze, Binghamton University lacrosse player Robert Martin, Southern University cheerleader Arlana Miller, and Stanford University soccer player Katie Meyer all took their own lives. These were elite athletes who appeared to have it all. Stanford University shared Meyer’s legacy in a tribute on its website: “Her friends describe her as a larger-than-life team player in all her pursuits, from choosing an academic discipline she said ‘changed my perspective on the world and the very important challenges that we need to work together to overcome,’ to the passion she brought to the Cardinal women’s soccer program and to women’s sports in general.” Heartbroken teammates of Bernett, Shulze, Martin, Miller and Meyer also took to social media to share their memories.
“Athletes compete everyday for playing time (especially in college) and nothing is a sure thing. This kind of pressure starts to wear athletes down and it can even make them hate the sport they love.,” says Howard High School’s Maddie Coleman, who is committed to Mount St. Mary’s to play softball at the Division I level. “There is also a lot of pressure to ‘be the best’ especially at the amateur and youth ball levels. I think sometimes coaches forget that sports are a game and they’re supposed to be fun. They sacrifice athletes' mental and physical health for wins,” Coleman stated.
Making mistakes during games can literally feel like the end of the world. Feeling the disappointment of coaches, parents and teammates can really make athletes stressed and overwhelmed – especially in high-stakes situations. During the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games, Team USA star gymnast Simone Biles ended up withdrawing from the competition for her mental health. Biles told the Associated Press in July of 2021, "At the end of the day, we're human, too.”
Coleman shared that “it’s so important to have a safe outlet. Personally, my outlet is lifting weights and pitching.” Julie Jones, a certified Mindset Coach and Positive Performance Visualization Specialist, recently wrote about the increase in student-athelte suicides. Jones stated that planning time to sleep and interact socially with others can help avoid feeling extremely overwhelmed. Drinking enough water in the morning can help the brain function better. Taking days off and learning breathing techniques are also simple ways to make people feel just a bit better.
If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide please call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.
University of Wisconsin track runner Sarah Shulze, Binghamton University lacrosse player Robert Martin, Southern University cheerleader Arlana Miller, and Stanford University soccer player Katie Meyer all took their own lives. These were elite athletes who appeared to have it all. Stanford University shared Meyer’s legacy in a tribute on its website: “Her friends describe her as a larger-than-life team player in all her pursuits, from choosing an academic discipline she said ‘changed my perspective on the world and the very important challenges that we need to work together to overcome,’ to the passion she brought to the Cardinal women’s soccer program and to women’s sports in general.” Heartbroken teammates of Bernett, Shulze, Martin, Miller and Meyer also took to social media to share their memories.
“Athletes compete everyday for playing time (especially in college) and nothing is a sure thing. This kind of pressure starts to wear athletes down and it can even make them hate the sport they love.,” says Howard High School’s Maddie Coleman, who is committed to Mount St. Mary’s to play softball at the Division I level. “There is also a lot of pressure to ‘be the best’ especially at the amateur and youth ball levels. I think sometimes coaches forget that sports are a game and they’re supposed to be fun. They sacrifice athletes' mental and physical health for wins,” Coleman stated.
Making mistakes during games can literally feel like the end of the world. Feeling the disappointment of coaches, parents and teammates can really make athletes stressed and overwhelmed – especially in high-stakes situations. During the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games, Team USA star gymnast Simone Biles ended up withdrawing from the competition for her mental health. Biles told the Associated Press in July of 2021, "At the end of the day, we're human, too.”
Coleman shared that “it’s so important to have a safe outlet. Personally, my outlet is lifting weights and pitching.” Julie Jones, a certified Mindset Coach and Positive Performance Visualization Specialist, recently wrote about the increase in student-athelte suicides. Jones stated that planning time to sleep and interact socially with others can help avoid feeling extremely overwhelmed. Drinking enough water in the morning can help the brain function better. Taking days off and learning breathing techniques are also simple ways to make people feel just a bit better.
If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide please call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.