Always Time For Mental Health Awareness

michael-phelps-santa-clara-2015 (5)
Becca Wyant

By Jamie Kolar, Swimming World College Intern.

October celebrates Mental Health Awareness Week, however, we should always make time to talk about it. Mental health is crucial to your overall well-being, let alone your performance in and out of the water. Although mental health has always been important, it has been presented in a new light with prominent advocates in the swimming world. Amazing examples include Michael Phelps, Ian Thorpe, Missy Franklin and Allison Schmitt. They have been major advocates in the swimming community – and in the sporting community – about the importance of mental health. They have not only advocated for speaking up when you feel there is a problem, but they also have been open about their own personal struggles and how poor mental health has affected their performance and personal lives.

phelps-schmitt-golden-goggles-2015

Photo Courtesy: Annie Grevers

Mental health can be difficult to talk about. It is not something that can easily be identified and is certainly not a subject to be taken lightly. When dealing with any mental health issue, there is a perceived stigma around the subject; it is not a routine fix, like a shoulder or knee injury. It is a very individualized issue, and to make matters more complicated, mental health really won’t improve by keeping the issue to yourself.

Robin-Sparf-mental-thought-swimmer-girl

Photo Courtesy: Robin Sparf

It is difficult to understand the nuances of mental health, much less handle struggles in any form on your own. There are good days and bad days, and the bad days may not have much warning a head of time. It is the roller-coaster that many didn’t intend to ride.

The other part of dealing with a mental health issue is admitting that you cannot handle it on your own. For athletes of any sport, it may be difficult to admit that you are struggling and may need some kind of help from someone else. We cannot just wait for it to get better or swim through it either. We openly give others advice about getting help and talking through whatever is bothering our friends/teammates, yet cannot seem to listen to our own words of wisdom. For some reason, we perceive asking for help as a form of weakness, which could not be further from the truth. It is not only brave but also inspiring when someone is able to ask for help from someone else. Do not ever be afraid or ashamed to talk to someone about any mental issues that you are having. Know that it is okay to speak up.

Belinda Hocking showing the strain of another hard set of training. University of Auburn Aquatic Centre, Alabama USA. Australian Olympic Swimming Team are in their final training staging Camp before heading over to the Rio2016 Olympic Games. July 29 2016. Photo by Delly Carr. Pic credit mandatory for complimentary exclusive editorial usage. Thank You.

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr / Swimming Australia Ltd.

There is no right or wrong way of dealing with mental illness. It is up to the discretion of the individual person and how they choose to handle the situation. If you are a friend of someone who is struggling, be there for them and provide the support that they need at this time. If the issue is serious, help your teammate reach out for professional help. No list of steps can map out how to handle this delicate situation, but it takes a community to support someone in need.

Consider the following poem about someone with mental illness talking to themselves in the mirror – poetry has a funny way of explaining what cannot be explained in other words or reason:

So I guess this is where we have ended up
distance not being the only thing separating us
why is nothing I do good enough?

nothing

I do not recognize these people we have become
somehow we have grown into this new persona
how did we get here?

nothing

I never seem to get a response
The empty words and meaningless conversations
why is it we cant speak?

nothing

is there a way past this?
can we ever change?
is it me?

nothing

All has seem lost and forgotten
but with one last question I leave
Can this ever be better or should I just give up?

yes

This person is struggling with understanding themselves and the new person that they have seemingly become. Mental illness changes us into someone we may not recognize, and our minds may not be able to provide a reasonable explanation. This person may see themselves as different, but others may not. Mental illness does not have one particular look, and those suffering do all they can to hide it.

The best example is that of the late Robin Williams. He not only struggled with depression and anxiety but also with Lewy body dementia. No one would have guessed that the Genie would or could ever be unhappy. Williams spent his life making people laugh and smile. The world could only assume that he was the happiest person on the planet, which is why so many were shocked when news broke that he had taken his own life.

We were all wrong, because we judged him based on his outward appearance. We all missed what was going on on the inside, and he unfortunately lost the battle with his mental illness.

But no more. We have lost too many great people to mental illness. It is time to end the stigma around it and start talking to each other and getting to know one another on a deeper level.

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Photo Courtesy: Maddie Strasen

We as teammates, a swim community and a human race, will support those who are struggling. We will always be able to talk to anyone who feels they need someone on their side at any time or any place.

It is also important to note that you, as an individual, matter. You matter as a swimmer, a person and a friend, no matter if you are struggling with mental health or not.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, please do not hesitate to talk to someone or ask for help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides a 24/7 phone service to either counsel those needing help or to give advice to those seeking help for loved one at this number: 1-800-273-8255.

All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.

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