There is nothing quite as captivating as the sheer athleticism required to compete at the highest level.
Masters of their craft, athletes seem superhuman. In these moments, it’s difficult to see them as who they really are — human.
The book “Mind Game” explores how these perceptions of athletes as perfect or invincible can affect the mental health of players. “Mind Game” gives readers an insight into the historical and current landscape of sports psychology. Julie Kliegman, a freelance journalist who has worked for Sports Illustrated and The Ringer, interviewed multiple high-profile Olympians, professional athletes and coaches in her journey to learn how athletes persevere through difficult mental health circumstances.
Kliegman will host a book talk and signing Aug. 27 at 5:30 p.m. at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, and her book is available for order.
Her event’s proximity to both Duke and North Carolina fits the story: Kliegman’s book dives into the challenges that student-athletes face in balancing strenuous training and rigorous coursework, oftentimes without access to mental health care. Kliegman cites her own experience with sports and mental illness as the inspiration behind “Mind Game.”
“I was a high school athlete… I ran cross country and track, and I also started dealing with mental illness around the time I was in high school,” Kliegman said. “The older I got, the more I noticed athletes on much higher levels than I ever hit were willing to talk about these things.”
Writing has allowed Kliegman to amplify athletes’ stories and raise awareness for more accessible mental health care in sports. When asked about the availability of mental health resources for collegiate players, Kliegman recognized that there have been significant improvements during the past decade. The number of mental health professionals available on college campuses is steadily increasing, and student-athletes are more vocal than ever about the mental aspect of sports.
“I think it's important to acknowledge steps like that, while also pressing the NCAA to do more, and more importantly, listening to the athletes on how they want to press the NCAA to do more,” Kliegman said.
Kliegman says there’s undoubtedly still so much work to be done. For example, the NCAA has yet to require its member institutions to have at least one licensed mental health provider on staff.
Kliegman believes that the root of this issue lies in the fundamentally flawed union of sports and higher education. Student-athletes are expected to not only practice up to 20 hours per week, but also travel, rehabilitate, study and go to class.
“Sometimes, participating in sports at such a high level is not what's best for the athletes’ mental wellbeing,” Kliegman said. “I think there definitely is a systemic mismatch, but that doesn't mean we can't do our best to improve the conditions that athletes work under.”
In “Mind Game,” Kliegman outlines a few ways to do just this. For one, mental health care can be better integrated into the normal routines of student-athletes. Receiving a mental health screening in an athletic complex as opposed to a hospital can make seeking care much less intimidating.
Coaches, trainers and managers can also normalize asking for help, instead of framing mental illness as a “sign of weakness." Kliegman proposes that “maybe the coach wants to share their own experiences and just offer reminders that there are people around to help if that's needed.”
Some of this work is already being done at Duke, thanks to the advocacy of former and current athletes and coaches. Joanne Palombo-McCallie, head coach of Duke women’s basketball from 2007 to 2020, is a vocal proponent of mental health in sports. In her book "Secret Warrior," McCallie recounts being advised to stay quiet about her struggles with bipolar disorder to not detract from the players. Just as athletes should be able to seek help, coaches should also feel comfortable speaking up when they need support.
UNCUT Duke is a student group on campus and one of many chapters across the country that gives student-athletes a platform to tell their own stories, often including struggles with mental illness. UNCUT also allows student-athletes to showcase their life outside of sports, such as passions and campus involvements. These athlete-led initiatives have been integral to the mental health movement in sports, as it both raises awareness to the issue and holds institutions accountable for their lack of action.
“We do need to credit the athletes for stepping up … and just in general, being willing to stand up for themselves and for each other,” Kliegman said. “They don't really owe anybody that, but it's really powerful to see.”
From fans to athletes to administrators, everyone has a role to play in moving mental health in sports forward. As Kliegman writes in “Mind Game,” the solution isn’t as simple as providing players with more mental health resources. Tackling this problem requires taking care of athletes financially, supporting the mental health of coaches and introducing sports psychology at a younger age.
Advancing athlete mental health starts with not only continuing to learn about sports psychology, but also applying mindfulness in everyday life. Everyone struggles with mental wellbeing at some point in their lives — no one should have to suffer in silence, Kliegman believes.
“I want people to keep speaking up, acknowledge that we're not starting a conversation, but we're certainly deepening one,” Kliegman said.
After her Chapel Hill event, Kliegman will spend a week exploring the Duke archives for research on her next book. “Finding Renée” will look at the life of Renée Richards, a transgender tennis player that sued the United States Tennis Association for her right to compete in the 1977 U.S. Open. Kliegman is a recipient of the Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library Harry H. Harkins Travel Grant for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History. She will be looking at a collection of papers by feminist activist and writer Eleanor Foa Dienstag that was gifted to the library between 2014-15. The collection contains notes, photos, and interviews from Dienstag’s unfinished biography that Kliegman plans to utilize for her next project.
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