Mental health influences our thoughts, emotions, actions, and ability to cope with stress. Yet in Ontario, only 24 per cent of those who experience mental illness have sought out help, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association (2022).

There’s often a huge stigma around seeking mental health support. This is especially true within the athletic community.

Hayley Pasma, who is the mental performance coach and consultant at Humber Polytechnic, says mental health is a point of vulnerability to athletes.

“It’s always supposed to be this big–I’m strong, I can do it–sort of mindset,” says Pasma.

Mental health has been a longstanding issue within the Canadian sports community. Olympic speed skater and cyclist, Clara Hughes, is the founding spokesperson for the Bell Let’s Talk campaign and has been very open about her past struggles with depression and substance abuse.

Bell Let’s Talk is a Canadian initiative dedicated to promoting mental health awareness, reducing stigma and funding mental health research and services.

This open dialogue within the professional sports world is echoed amongst Humber athletes.

With about 250 student-athletes attending the college, balancing sports and academics can feel like a challenge.

Corey McArthur, a fourth-year Kinesiology student at Guelph-Humber and player for the Humber Hawks rugby team, says a demanding schedule adds to mental stress.

“Rugby practices at least three times a week, plus lifting two to three times a week, and then our games Saturday and Sunday. So mid-way through the fall season I was so burnt out, I needed a break, it was rough.”

Amidst the challenges, Humber polytechnic offers resources like the Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre (SWAC), Peer Wellness Services, and support staff for student-athletes to assist with both mental and physical well-being including sleep, nutrition, and academics.

Services like SWAC and Peer Wellness Services are at no extra cost to students, as they are included in tuition.

As part of her role at Humber, Pasma observes varsity teams during practices and games, and consults with student-athletes and their coaches, both one-on-one and as a team.

She helps re-focus their goals, motivate them and enhance their performance and confidence both on and off the field.

“Humber is one of the best schools at offering these resources,” says Pasma. “The athletes here are super supported and it’s really nice to see.”

She sees about 80 per cent of Humber student-athletes utilizing support services offered at the school.

McArthur is just one of the many student-athletes that has relied on Humber’s student support outereach.

“I talked to our wellness coach during the season. I was seeing her at least once a week even to just check in and even if things were going well. Or if I was struggling, I had someone to listen and provide an outside perspective.”

While Humber’s student support services remain essential to the well-being and performance of student-athletes, mental health remains a top priority, driving the ongoing need to increase awareness of these resources and enhance student access.

At the start of the rugby season, McArthur along with her teammates received a presentation about support outreach offered to students, but McArthur believes this level of outreach is not quite enough.

“Just advertise it more. I think really putting it out there because students can’t get help if they don’t know that help is available. I’ve never seen like advertising online or anything, so I think really pushing it on social media, or even just around the school.”

Pasma believes Humber should continue its current efforts while also exploring new avenues to evolve it’s support programs.

“Ask for feedback. Ask the student-athletes what else they need. How can we [Humber] support you in this area.”

For more information or if you or someone you know require mental health support services, visit Humber’s Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre for assistance.

 

Photo By: Mart Production, Pexels, Creative Commons License