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Here is our TOP perFORMer of May 2022
“I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression for most – if not all – of my high school career and I thought I was the only person,” said Mia Swenson, a senior dual-sport athlete at La Salle Academy in Providence, Rhode Island. Finding balance among the pressures of being both a student and an athlete for the girl’s field hockey and lacrosse teams has not been an easy feat for Swenson.
It’s a continuous challenge to be your best self before you can be held accountable to others and that is one of the reasons why student-athletes are more likely than their student counterparts to experience mental illness. This is an understanding that has been recognized by Mia Swenson who is an ambassador for student-athlete mental health awareness on her campus through a non-profit and advocacy group called The Hidden Opponent.
Unfortunately, a mental health stigma continues to manifest itself in athlete and student-athlete communities. Consequently, the student-athlete population is less likely to seek professional help. The neon green bracelets worn by Swenson and her comrades are helping raise awareness and empower other student-athletes to destigmatize mental health among their athletic communities. Swenson also fulfills the role of ‘Campus Captain’ at her high school in order to bolster mental health support for all.
Succumbing to feelings has traditionally been held as a weakness in sports. While burying emotion may take some form of discipline, not having the opportunity to process emotions, trauma, or other experiences can lead to harmful impacts on physical and mental health. Athletes that are often idolized do not always need to be “tough” or “hard”; athletes struggle just like everyone else and can be purposeful in their journey by advocating for themselves and others.
As more professional athletes speak on mental health awareness, Top Form hopes that more people like Mia Swenson generate a trickle-down effect of awareness at the collegiate and high school levels. Top Form Psych thanks Mia Swenson for being a beacon of hope and sponsor for mental health in our athletic communities.
