Pressure Overload on Students & Athletes

Mental Health University

While athletes and students strive for excellence, many experience psychological distress when pressure to perform intensifies. This occurs too often in athletes and students, especially when they land in a narrow view of defining "success." We dig into the common metrics students and athletes use to define success and the range of mental health effects of too much pressure, the impact of excessive pressure on performance, self-concept, and highlight how world class athletes are including mental health professionals on their development team.

Episode highlights:

- Pressure in sports and academics

- Risks of a score driven culture

- Risks of focusing on singular data points for success

- How to avoid defining yourself by a moment in time

- Big names connecting with sports psychologists: Biles, Cavendish, Phelps, Osaka, Bolt, Williams (Serena), Clark (Wyndham)

- College athletic programs including in house mental health support

- How students can use resources on and off campus