Delaware State women's basketball player Tyshonne Tollie loves being involved.
 
She sometimes has a hard time saying no to things. However, even she has limits and experiences those moments when everything crashes down on her like an avalanche.
 
Tollie, along with student-athletes across the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), learned that it was acceptable to fall back from activities, organizations and responsibilities during a Mental Health Symposium Zoom with MEAC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Harry Stafford on Tuesday, April 25.
 
“What takeaways I got from the mental health zoom was low management,” Tollie, a sophomore forward and public health major from Bartow, Fla., said. “I'm a person who loves to get involved with more organizations on campus, but it's hard when you are a full-time student-athlete, so it's stressing you out trying to do more. During the Zoom, they brought up low management, such as limiting yourself to one or two organizations.
 
“It was also shared that being involved in so many activities at once can cause mental issues and be overwhelming to keep up with sports, school, and other activities. Also, another takeaway is self-care, like treating yourself to calm your stress levels being a student-athlete. Another key was to do things you love to do for yourself, like pray or relax to reenergize for the next day.”
 
With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, the MEAC wanted to support those with mental health struggles and help remove the stigma surrounding mental health. The MEAC prioritizes the holistic development of its student-athletes at its eight member schools by providing educational resources.
 
The symposium covered depression and anxiety in minority student-athletes, mistrust of the medical system and mental trauma. The Zoom also included a student-athlete rap session to tackle such items as unpacking baggage and compartmentalizing the student-athlete’s day and life outside of athletics.
 
“My takeaways from the meeting were understanding and acknowledging my value as a student-athlete,” Chara Hinds, a Delaware State sophomore triathlete and 2019 Barbados national female aquathlon champion, said. “Understanding that I am not the only athlete dealing with the hardships of being a student-athlete (struggles with anxiety, burnout, traumatic injury/experiences in sport, etc.).
 
“Acknowledging that trauma from coaches is real and relevant to growth as an athlete. My most important takeaway was the push to advocate for myself and my teammates when I feel something is not right, even if it is small.”
 
Dr. Emmett Gill, founder of AthleteTalk, LLC; professional football player and sports performance coach T.J. Graham; speed and strength coach Lisa Barber; and Dr. Daniel Mollenthiel joined Dr. Stafford on the call.
 
“I love the MEAC; its member institutions, as well as all sports and athletes,” Gill said. “I graduated from an HBCU and worked at one, so to be a brilliant part of what [MEAC] Commissioner [Sonja Stills] is trying to do is special! Not to mention four HBCUs are AthleteTalk partners. I would add that coaches must get on board - whether they want more wins or athletes better equipped in life - coaches must get with athletes' mental health. The most important message is that the MEAC holds this event and cares about athletes' mental health and wellness. It says a lot.”
 
In the fall of 2021, 24% of male and 36% of female athletes "felt so depressed that it was difficult to function," according to an annual survey from the NCAA. Unfortunately, student-athletes feared losing scholarships, decreased playing time or even risking earning their degrees should they take a mental health leave or suffer an injury.
 
According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), 10% of all student-athletes with known mental health conditions seek help from a mental health professional. In that same survey, around 25% of student-athletes experience depression, anxiety, eating irregularities and increased fatigue.
 
This is one reason the MEAC has taken a stand in support of mental health and hosted this symposium.
 
“It was an honor to witness our conference taking a stance in providing programming for student-athletes mental wellness,” Delaware State Deputy Director of Athletics Kyle Adams said. “Dr. Stafford and Dr. Gill and all the presenters did an outstanding job-sharing resources & strategies for our students. As we continue this meaningful work, continuing the conversation about coaching mental wellness is equally important.
 
“Coaches have a unique position of influence and impact on their athletes' lives, both on and off the field of competition. By prioritizing mental wellness and incorporating it into their coaching pedagogy, coaches can better advocate and contribute to their athletes' overall well-being and success.”
 
“Mental health has increasingly been in the spotlight these last few years, and the importance of mental health can no longer be ignored,” Stills added. “It is vital that our student-athletes, coaches, support staff and university communities put as much emphasis on mental health as they do physical health, and ignoring our mental health can have disastrous consequences. I applaud Dr. Stafford for his commitment to fighting the stigma surrounding mental health and making sure our institutions are well-situated to respond when needed, and this symposium is just one part of that.”
 
Athletes were equipped with tools they could immediately implement.
 
“What I can use from that Zoom is to help a classmate, teammate, or friend manage their time correctly,” Tollie said. “For me, it helps me know what's best for me and time that will help me cause no stress when being a student-athlete and involved with other activities. Also, self-care is important, and putting yourself first ensures you're O.K. physically and mentally. Being the healthy you is important to get things done quicker and leaving the stress behind.”
 
NOTE: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. Text MHA to 741741 to connect with a trained Crisis Counselor from Crisis Text Line. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.