FLORENCE, Ala. (WHNT) – Being a student-athlete can be tough. Not only do you deal with the pressures and demands of playing a sport, but you also have to deal with the day-to-day challenges that come with being a college student.
It's a challenge that recent UNA graduate Mackenzie Martin understands and wants to spread awareness as Mental Health Awareness Month comes to an end.
“It may seem like we just go out there and play, but it's so much more than that. What our athletes are looking for is a place where they can play and do their best and feel supported and not feel pressured every moment of their collegiate experience,” Martin said.
When Martin settled in Florence more than five years ago, UNA was in the midst of its transition to Division I and beach volleyball was just getting started as a new program. And Martin herself was in the midst of a transition, facing a battle she didn't even know she was fighting.
“I struggled with anxiety throughout my playing days, but it wasn't until years later that I realized it was an anxiety disorder. I had to figure out what was right for me to perform the way I needed to. Honestly, the biggest encouragement for me was when my teammates said, 'You seem a little bit worried. You're not your normal self. Maybe you should talk to a counselor,'” Martin added.
The safe space that her teammates and the UNA community created has made a huge difference in Martin’s mental health journey.
“I've had some girls come up to me and say, 'Wow, you talking about your anxiety has helped me realize it's okay not to be okay.' I think just talking to them and being honest with them has empowered them to ask for help,” Martin said. “We do a lot of mental strength training, analyzing and talking about how you're feeling and what it means, and knowing that it's okay to feel that way. Some days I'll feel more confident, some days I might not feel as good, and that's okay. I can talk to any of the girls and they support me, they understand what I'm going through and they know how to help me.”
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As Martin moves on to the next chapter in her life, she hopes the conversation around mental health continues so all student-athletes feel valued and able to succeed not only on the field or court, but in everyday life as well.
“Whether you're on the golf team, the beach volleyball team, football, basketball, any sport, you feel the support from the players, the coaches, the staff. Just knowing that I can go into their offices and talk honestly about my life, I'm not just a number on paper, I'm not just a statistic to them, I'm a flesh and blood person. As a student, an athlete and an alumna, I matter to their lives and to building this community that we're building. You can be a number on paper wherever you are, but you're a human being and you're loved,” Martin added.
While May is Mental Health Awareness Month, Martin hopes the conversation about mental health and supporting student-athletes continues throughout the year. If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health, please contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or dial 988 or ask for help with the crisis line online.
