With the pressure to excel on the field and in the classroom, student-athletes face unique challenges that can take a toll on their mental well-being. Youngstown State University (YSU) is taking the moment to focus on the mental well-being of student-athletes. 

"It's certainly a transition for them in life and they really trying to explore who they are and really develop those senses. And as a collegiate student athlete, we find that those pressures are even higher," Jen Tymkew, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Integrated Healthcare and Performance at YSU said. 

According to a 2024 British Journal of Sports Medicine study, suicide is now the second leading cause of death among collegiate athletes.

Dr. Deirdre Adduci owner of Restoration Counseling in Cortland, said those pressures they face can become too overwhelming.

"I think it is paramount that we let the athlete know that [they] are so much more than this. You are not just an athlete, you are a person and we love you whether you win this game or not because you were a winner the minute that you tried." Adduci said. 

At Youngstown State University efforts to support their mental health are a top priority. The athletic department works closely with student counseling services to implement various strategies to support their mental health. Those strategies include psychological evaluations during their physicals and mental health training courses for students and athletic trainers.

Tymkew said there has been quite a few athletes in need of the counseling and those services are available around the clock.

"We've got those resources set up here for them on campus to go to whenever they need to, and those resources are 24 hours a day."