The NFL just announced that all teams must employ a full-time mental health clinician. They also emphasized that support should always remain within reach — especially for players who travel away from the team — and that organizations must treat mental health with the same importance as physical health.
Let me say that last part again.
The NFL, the holy grail of professional sports, is making the statement that mental health is as important as physical health. That’s a big deal (or a BFD as they say) and a signal that local school districts, private sports academies, and youth sports leaders should be hearing loud and clear.
For years, we have understood the importance of physical care in sports. Athletic trainers, strength coaches, and team physicians are standard. If a player gets hurt, team immediately follow a plan or a protocol.
Mental health hasn’t always received equal attention, but the highest level of sports is shifting its approach, and the rest of the system needs to pay attention.
Why This Matters
I get it, most athletes are not playing in the NFL. But that doesn’t mean that they’re not still feeling the intensity of pressure, expectations, and stress. And even more so, because unlike professional athletes, sports is not their job. This means they are balancing EVEN MORE: academics, social dynamics, family expectations, and a litany of other responsibilities all at once. Their schedules are packed. And for many, any error feels like an identity shattering crisis.
If we take the NFL’s lead seriously, then the question becomes what this actually looks like at the high school and youth level.
It’s not just about having someone available in a crisis. It’s about including mental health as a basic function of participating in sports, the same way we do physical health.
Here’s how mental health care, like therapy, can benefit athletes.
1. Support for Life Outside of Sports
Athletes are not just athletes.
They are navigating the same challenges as anyone else, often with added pressure. Anxiety, depression, relationship stress, and burnout do not disappear because someone is performing at a high level.
Therapy can help athletes manage their conflicting priorities, handle stress, and build an identity beyond their sport. That identity is protective when sports inevitably become difficult (or more likely, ends).
2. Improve Performance on the Field
Mental health care is also performance care.
Focus, motivation, confidence, and the ability to respond to mistakes are all skills that can be developed. Learning how to reset after a bad play, stay present in high-pressure moments, and build consistent routines can directly impact performance.
We would never expect an athlete to build strength or endurance without guidance. The same should apply to the mental side of the game.
3. Addressing Challenges Athletes Are Particularly Susceptible To
Athletes face certain challenges at higher rates than their peers, including substance use, sleep issues, and identity tied to performance. In fact, the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport reported that 51.7% of young athletes report at least one mental health problem, such as anxiety, depression, substance use, or disordered eating. Further, a recent NIH study revealed that 40% of teen athletes report significant feelings of depression, attributed to burnout, attrition, and performance struggles. When your sense of worth becomes connected to how you play, every success and failure carries more weight. For instance, losing a starting position, recovering from an injury, or going through a slump can cause persistent mood or interpersonal issues beyond the field without the aid of a mental reset.
4. Making Mental Health Check-Ins Standard
Every athlete is required to get a physical before a season. We should be thinking about mental health the same way.
An annual mental wellness check creates an opportunity to assess how an athlete is doing before something becomes a crisis. It normalizes support and reinforces that mental health is part of being a complete athlete.
What This Means to Me as a Clinician
As you can tell, I care a lot about this topic.
I have always been drawn to high-performing, perfectionistic athletes. The ones who push themselves, hold themselves to incredibly high standards, and often carry more internally than they show externally.
Stories like Madison Holleran and Katie Meyer highlight the role that mental health plays in sports and the risks that exist. They are a reminder that what we see on the surface is not always the full picture. Little by little, we are ending the stigma and normalizing the priority of mental health care thanks to the transparency and leadership of Simone Biles, Jarren Duran, Amber Glenn, and others.
That’s why I’m glad the NFL is paying attention. It should serve as an example for leagues, schools, and programs at every level.
No athlete should be expected to navigate the pressures of sports alone. Especially not high school athletes who are striving, driven, and often carrying more than they show.
If you or your child is an athlete and feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure how to handle the pressure that comes with sports, support is available. Please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d be happy to help.
About the Author
Alex Bleiweis, LCSW-C, is a licensed therapist and Assistant Executive Director at Montgomery County Counseling Center in Rockville, MD. He earned his Master’s in Social Work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work. Alex uses a practical, skills-based approach rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients create meaningful, lasting change. He specializes in working with young adults and professionals facing career challenges, as well as individuals struggling with process addictions like gambling and technology overuse.
