ETSU is emphasizing student athletes’ mental health this semester following recent controversies at the university.
In a press conference earlier this month, ETSU President Brian Noland discussed his expectations and plans for the athletics program. He wants students to excel in the classroom, coaches to play by the rules and coaches to win championships, as well as focus on the mental health and support for student athletes.
“The past few years have been extremely difficult for our student athletes, as they navigate the post-COVID landscape,” said Noland. “This past week has been extremely difficult for members of our women’s basketball team. Dr. Sander is going to find unique partnerships with ETSU Health, and he’s going to bring those to fruition in a very short time period that will allow us to provide dedicated mental health support for our student athletes.”
Brett Lewis, director of sports medicine for ETSU Athletics, elaborated on the need for mental health services for athletes.
“The pressure of being a student athlete seems to be getting tougher, because I think there is a lot more demand from athletes as they are coming in as freshmen. They are having to figure out how to manage their lives more on their own,” said Lewis.
With roughly 400 student athletes at ETSU, Lewis believes one of the biggest challenges the athletes are faced with is being able to properly manage a schedule. Between conditioning, classes, team meetings and practice, there is little room for these athletes to have time for themselves.
“It’s almost like a job,” Lewis said.
Lewis’s main goal for this semester and the future is to have more trained mental health professionals for the student athletes to meet with more consistently throughout the week if they choose to. This includes having a clinical psychologist available for the athletes.
“We’ve been in the process of getting more accessibility and more providers that are able to help our student athletes from a mental health standpoint,” Lewis said. “I think they are using the resources available more than they used to. The stigma is starting to decrease.”
Lewis’s primary focus now is on men’s basketball and women’s triathlon, but he oversees the care of all student athletes and understands the amount of pressure being put on them can take a toll on both their mental and physical health.
Overall, Lewis is ready for this semester and is looking forward to working with the athletes. He believes the athletics department as a whole is taking the right steps in regard to mental health.
“I think we are going in the right direction. I think we have a ways to go but the leaders in our department and on campus are trying to help us as well,” Lewis said.
