ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The University of Michigan’s Athletes Connected program released a new video this week in honor of May being Mental Health Awareness Month.
The video features Anika Dy, a recent U-M graduate and member of the women’s golf team, and shines a light on her journey from mental illness to mental health. Dy’s story is a continuation of “Student-Athlete Stories,” a series of short videos designed to normalize mental health issues by reducing stigma, raising awareness and promoting help-seeking.
“You don’t come to the University of Michigan to be mediocre,” said Dy. “You come here to be the best.”
Her story is one common among student-athletes. What happens when the pressures of being an elite student and an elite athlete become too much to take? When the stress of competing at a high level starts to take its toll on our health?
“I became more and more isolated. All my time became golf, school, golf, school. That’s it,” she shared. This rigorous schedule caused her to withdraw and deepened her loneliness. She began to feel like she was the only one experiencing these types of challenges.
For Dy, the accumulation of stressors resulted in a panic attack while on a golf training trip. “I experienced something I didn’t experience before,” she noted. “It came to a point where I just broke down.”
It’s key to know that progress is not linear, and asking for help only makes you stronger. It’s not a sign of weakness. It makes you a stronger athlete, student and person.”
The Athletics Counseling Team in U-M’s Athletic Department helped coordinate care for Dy, which included regular sessions with a therapist, and a helpful inpatient stay.
Dy explained, “For me, asking for help, or even trying to see a therapist was very new territory… It did help me and it saved me.”
Reflecting on her journey so far, Dy made an astute observation for anyone dealing with mental health issues.
“It’s key to know that progress is not linear, and asking for help only makes you stronger. It’s not a sign of weakness. It makes you a stronger athlete, student and person.
About Athletes Connected Formed in 2014 on an NCAA pilot grant by a collaboration of University of Michigan Depression Center, Athletics and School of Public Health, Athletes Connected actively works to provide student-athletes with the tools and resources possible to support student-athletes along the continuum of wellbeing. Athletes Connected does this by promoting awareness of mental health issues, reducing the stigma of help-seeking and promoting positive coping skills among student-athletes. To learn more about the program, view the entire catalog of videos, read original stories and access helpful resources for student-athletes and non-athletes alike.
As a student-athlete at the University of Michigan I quickly learned that name, image, and likeness (NIL) is shaping the world of college athletics today. Several businesses are beginning to see the value in creating NIL sponsorship opportunities with student-athletes due to an NCAA rule change in June 2021. The initial ruling that consisted of four sentences was confusing not only to myself and other student-athletes, but to athletic departments, businesses, and fans as well. As a result, common misconceptions arose as to what NIL really was and the benefits and additional responsibilities student-athletes have in this new world of college athletics. So what even is NIL and how do student-athletes profit off their name, image, and likeness?
Dylan’s conceptualization of the NIL structure
Several student-athletes, including me, were under the idea that simply being on a college athletic team would ensure NIL dollars coming to us without any work on our end, but that simply isn’t the case. NIL is a branch of influencer marketing, which is not a completely new concept. This means the blueprint to success has already been implemented by social media influencers, it’s just only recently been legalized by the NCAA. With this new opportunity, student-athletes, very much like social media influencers, may now monetize their NIL for commercial purposes. Some examples I’ve seen are autograph signings, social media posts, commercial partnerships, or other appearances. Additionally, we as student-athletes are responsible for paying taxes on cash compensation or the value of products received, which came as a surprise to most of us, adding another layer of stress as we had to learn the best way to report our income, without a lot of direction since all student athletes were learning about this at the same time.
Our Athletic Department has since created tax/financial education sessions to ensure us athletes are aware of the responsibilities involved in an NIL deal and to help keep us from any trouble with the IRS. A Local Exchange has been set up through INFLCR to help connect Wolverine athletes with businesses. In addition, we can report our deals to Michigan through an app which also helps keep track of our tax information. The University has also set up a contract review program through the Law School to review the legality of deals to alleviate the stress some of us feel when negotiating deals and to ensure none of us are getting stuck in a binding deal that could be harmful to our brand in the long run.
It is also helpful for us as student-athletes to understand the social media presence NIL empowers us to have. We need to have a firm understanding of our values in order to maintain our public image as we represent not only our school but our personal social media brand. We must conduct our own research to ensure the brands we partner with have the same values and align with the image we are trying to build for ourselves. What’s important to me? Does this company/brand align with the image I’m creating for myself? We as athletes are role models to kids of all ages and have the pleasure and responsibility of being connected to our fans more than ever, which has a large impact on our communities and the next generation. Read more about navigating public criticism here.
The best piece of advice I can give is to become aware of and build skills around time management so you can accomplish what you want to, and have more time to yourself away from the stress
It is important to note that getting a deal done is not as easy as people may think. Businesses focus on the social media engagement of student-athletes before offering deals. This results in a new found responsibility for us to increase our social media engagement through content creation which is a lot harder than most realize. Social media already has some issues such as comparing yourself to others, but now the pressure is truly on to constantly be able to produce content that will gain constant engagement. Honestly, it can become like a full-time job for some which adds another task to our already busy schedule. As the mental health crisis continues in our country, it is imperative that we give student athletes the resources they need or not only be successful in this space from a business standpoint, but to prioritize their mental health through it all. I can say first-hand when my day consists of early morning lifts, classes, study time, practices, and games, while trying to maintain proper performance, balanced nutrition, adequate sleep schedules, and taking care of myself to physically be able to compete at a high level for an entire athletic season, it can become hard to find time to work on meaningful independent brand building. The best piece of advice I can give is to become aware of and build skills around time management so you can accomplish what you want to, and have more time to yourself away from the stress of your sport, classes, or anything pertaining to the world of NIL.
As you can see, NIL is a complicated topic. Laws and NCAA regulations have slowly been adjusted to provide more clarity as NIL continues to evolve. NIL is a step in the right direction for college athletics and creates new responsibilities for all parties involved. College athletics have forever changed as a result of NIL, and it is important to keep the best interest of student-athletes at heart, and to be mindful of how it can impact their mental health. Athletic departments across the nation must continue to do their part in equipping student-athletes with the tools necessary for success not only in their sport, but in all aspects of the student athlete experience including NIL. You as an athlete also have an opportunity to keep your own best interests in mind by clarifying your own values and choosing partnerships and brands that promote those. You also have the chance to practice skills to benefit things like your time and stress management.
if you’re looking for assistance navigating NIL, here are some resources available to Michigan student-athletes:
If you’re experiencing difficulty with time management, are feeling overwhelmed, or want to explore your personal values, consider connecting with an Athletic Counselor.
About the Author
Dylan Steele is a senior student athlete on the cheer team at the University of Michigan studying sport management with minors in entrepreneurship and real estate development. He serves as the NIL/NCAA Legislation Executive Board Chair. He is a 2 time NCA National Champion.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The University of Michigan’s Athletes Connected program released a new video as part of its “Inside the Recovery: Athletes’ Mental Health and Injuries” video series. This series features interviews with student-athletes who have suffered from sports injury and have managed and overcome mental and physical aspects of their recovery.
Avery Peters, a center-back for the University of Michigan women’s soccer team, tore her right ACL after senior year of high school, then her left ACL freshman year shortly after arriving at U-M. She felt immense pressure after that and had thoughts such as, Do I even belong here? Am I ever going to play again?
Prior to her injury she felt too prideful to seek help, but after consistent Athletic Counseling sessions she learned tools such as journaling, meditating, and trusting the process that helped her return to the field.
“If you don’t go through it, you don’t know how hard it is,” said Peters. “But I’m thankful to have gone through that experience because I’m able to help them (teammates) more.”
“If you don’t go through it, you don’t know how hard it is,” said Peters. “But I’m thankful to have gone through that experience because I’m able to help them (teammates) more.”
ACL and other injuries are common among athletes, with Peters mentioning eight other teammates managing them. Many worry if they will ever fully recover, how it will impact play time, and their spot on the team.
“I think if I could go back, I would want to trust myself a little bit more, and be in the moment,” Avery shared. She’s very thankful for the team of support she received at U-M.
Avery was able to return to the field earning Academic All-Big Ten, Iron Wolverine, and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. In her junior season, she led all field players with 1,609 minutes played. Avery shares her story because she doesn’t want anyone to feel they’re alone.
About Athletes Connected Formed in 2014 on an NCAA pilot grant by a collaboration of University of Michigan Depression Center, Athletics and School of Public Health, Athletes Connected actively works to provide student-athletes with the tools and resources possible to support student-athletes along the continuum of wellbeing. Athletes Connected does this by promoting awareness of mental health issues, reducing the stigma of help-seeking and promoting positive coping skills among student-athletes. To learn more about the program, view the entire catalog of videos, read original stories and access helpful resources for student-athletes and non-athletes alike.
Athletes Connected team members Uriel Zeitz and Kelly Pahle are highlighted in ‘A sign of strength’ by University of Michigan’s Office of Development.
‘A sign of strength’
11/19/2024
By Anissa Gabbara
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Student-athletes manage a heavy load on a daily basis—from juggling school, sports, and a social life to coping with injury and performance pressures. These stressors can take a toll on their mental health, and often the stigma surrounding those burdens prevents them from seeking help. But at the University of Michigan, support for students-athletes is available well beyond game day.
Championing mental health
As one of the mental health services provided by the Athletic Counseling Team (ACT) at Michigan Athletics, the Athletes Connected (ACX) program has been working with student-athletes since 2014. A partnership with the School of Social Work and the Eisenberg Family Depression Center, ACX aims to increase awareness of mental health issues in student-athletes, destigmatize help-seeking, and promote coping skills. The program also facilitates peer support groups, provides educational programming, and utilizes research to inform best practices. Additional resources offered by the counseling team include clinical services (individual and group therapy, crisis intervention) and mental performance services for individuals, teams, and small groups.
“We know that mental health is just as important as physical health,” said Kelly Pahle, director of athletic counseling.
“And we also know that if someone is struggling mentally—and that can be across the spectrum, from confidence in their sport all the way up to depression or anxiety—they’re more prone to injury and more likely to underperform in school, in their sport, and in their future endeavors. So we think it’s important to make sure that we are continuing to address those needs.”
‘A space to connect’
As a member of the Michigan men’s soccer team, Uriel Zeitz (AB ’23) chose to prioritize his well-being. Transferring to U‑M in his junior year, Zeitz sought support following an injury that started to affect his mental health. By participating in the Injury Support Group, restorative yoga sessions, and educational programs and events, Zeitz found renewed strength in his ACX experience.“It’s been a space to connect with fellow student-athletes around a shared goal of helping to support and enhance our mental health,” he said. “It also allowed me to really dive deeper into my own mental health, my own thinking, my own wellness and recovery process in a way that I never had to do before.”Now, as an ACX intern and a graduate student in the School of Social Work, Zeitz is using his experiences to help support other student-athletes—whether it’s going over the injury recovery process, working with them to enhance their performance skills, or helping them learn how to cope with stress and anxiety.“Student-athletes, like anyone else, struggle with—and also thrive—in mental health, so I think it’s important for me to try to keep this work going,” Zeitz said.
Setting the standard, synergistically
classrooms and presentations.Boasting a large, diverse staff with unique backgrounds, ACT exemplifies U‑M’s distinctive ability to lead in innovative approaches to mental health care for student-athletes. Made possible by donor support, these breakthroughs are making a meaningful difference in their performance, recovery, and wellness.Restorative yoga, for example, fuses mindfulness, meditation, and intentional relaxation to calm the body and mind.
The Reflexion Board, a neurotraining tool, is used to help sharpen the mind, work on hand-eye coordination, and improve reaction time. In combination with specific mental performance strategies and game scenarios, the Reflexion Board helps athletes prepare to manage stress in high-pressure situations. Another donor-funded tool, the FocusCalm headband and app, combines neurofeedback with mindfulness, meditation, and other approaches to help student-athletes find and remain calm and focused.“Donor support is so important because what we do is really based on people; it takes a large team of trained counselors to provide comprehensive, integrated, holistic mental health and mental performance services to our 29 teams and almost 1,000 student-athletes,” Pahle said. “Because we are embedded and employed by Michigan Athletics and all of our services are free, we believe this reduces barriers to help-seeking and increases student-athlete usage of the services of the Athletic Counseling Team. Donor support is a big reason we can do that.”Zeitz emphasized that reality as well: “The support from donors is not only important in helping student-athletes, but it’s also setting frameworks for what can be used across the country and around the world.”
ACX is making an impact here and around the world. At a recent conference, Pahle met mental health providers to student-athletes from universities in North America and Africa who are incorporating ACX’s videos into their support efforts. Students and educators have told Pahle that they’ve used those videos in
Words of encouragement
As Zeitz points out, normalizing conversations about and increasing awareness of mental health in athletic spaces is crucial, especially when it comes to reducing the stigma surrounding physical injury and emotional pressure. And as someone who’s been on both sides of the table, he understands why student-athletes can be reluctant to get the help they need, but offers words of encouragement.“Ultimately, seeking help is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of strength,” Zeitz said. “There are so many different avenues you can take to support your mental health, so be proactive and prioritize what’s going to be best for you.”
Every transfer student athlete transfers for various reasons. Some transfer to find a school that’s closer to home while others do it to seek opportunities that better suit their athletic and/or academic needs. In 2022, the NCAA adopted a rule change stating “athletes who transfer schools for the first time would no longer have to redshirt for a year before competing.” This rule change, along with the increasingly popular transfer portal, have made transferring easier than ever before. New opportunities and fresh starts can be really great for college athletes, but it doesn’t make transitioning from one school to the next any less difficult. With so many athletes now hitting the transfer portal, I believe it’s important to recognize some of the effects transferring can have on an athlete.
Every athlete has their own unique story as to why they transferred. For me, I wanted a second college experience. I played my first four years of college baseball at Ohio University before deciding to enter the transfer portal after graduating in 2022. With two years of eligibility left, I decided to graduate transfer with the hopes of finding a new college experience that was closer to home. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to play the remainder of my college baseball days at the University of Michigan.
Not all transfers share the same experiences. Someone who transfers after just one year of college might have a completely different post-transfer experience than someone like me, who transferred after a full four years of college. For instance, some of the transitions I had to make were easier than others. Having already been to college for four years, I knew a lot of what to expect. However, since I was living off campus and was older than a lot of the other athletes, I often felt like an outsider and distant from the rest of the athletic community.
It was strange starting all over again as a 22 year old. I remember on my first day on campus, I attended the incoming athlete orientation where I was surrounded by hundreds of freshmen athletes. I felt out of place. There I was, a recent college graduate, hanging out with a bunch of recent high school graduates. It was difficult to bond with people right away. In my undergrad, I had built relationships with athletes from all the other teams, creating a small community, but that was all gone now. I was going to have to start from scratch, and not just with forming friendships with other athletes, but I’m talking about everything. Learning about school traditions, navigating the campus, finding out who and what my available resources were. It was all new. Not only did I have to adjust to a new school environment, but I had to adjust to playing under a new set of coaches alongside a new crop of teammates. It wasn’t so easy at first. It took some time before I was able to find my groove balancing a new class schedule with baseball, learning about my new teammates, and understanding a sense of the team culture and policies. On top of adjusting to everything, I still had to find ways to compete and be an expert at my sport. As a new face on the team, I still had to prove that I belonged and fight for my spot, something most 22 year old college students don’t have to do.
It was mentally taxing going through the fall having to compete at an elite level while adjusting to a new setting. I made the big decision to transfer to Michigan back in the summer, and I carried the weight of that decision with me throughout the year, hoping I made the right choice and wouldn’t regret anything. I’m sure many other transfer athletes feel this way too. In efforts to cope with these thoughts and feelings, I tried my best to immerse myself as much as I could with the school. I found I grew closest with my teammates who were also fellow transfers due to our shared commonality and unique experience that other teammates hadn’t had. In fact, my status as a transfer is also what led me to form friendships with other transfer athletes outside of the baseball team. I was able to bond really easily with them and we were able to learn about each other’s prior college experiences. I was able to learn about a whole new team culture and have pride in a school I never thought I would attend. Along with the many different athletes I got to meet, I was also introduced to the many different athletic department members that made my transition into Michigan a lot easier. These included our nutrition team, academic counselors, athletic counseling team, and strength coaches.
The journey of a transfer student-athlete is a unique and challenging one. Whether it’s a desire for a second college experience, a change in athletic or academic opportunities, or simply a quest for a fresh start, the decision to transfer comes with its share of difficulties and adjustments. While the NCAA rule changes and the transfer portal have made the process more accessible, the emotional and logistical hurdles should not be underestimated. Nevertheless, as demonstrated by this personal account, with resilience, determination, and the support of fellow transfer athletes and dedicated university staff, the transition can ultimately lead to new friendships, personal growth, and a sense of belonging in a new school and athletic community.
About the Author
Eamon Horwedel recently graduated from University of Michigan’s School of Social Work in the Management and Leadership pathway and interned with University of Michigan Athletics. Eamon transferred from Ohio University to play baseball for University of Michigan 2023-2024.
Shame is a heavy emotion. It aches the heart, weighs us down, stifles hope, paralyzes forward motion. Further, shame is silent, thriving in isolation and secrecy. And worst of all, it spirals us into its grip as we sink ever deeper into its hold. We feel beholden to shame, as if we owe the world shame as retribution for our failures and shortcomings.
In athletics, we might feel shame for struggling with disordered eating or an eating disorder. We might feel shame for having a distorted body image. We might feel shame for being unable to rest from training. We might ask ourselves how we can struggle with concepts athletes should have a hardened ability to perfect. The list goes on.
I hope we are able to take up the mantle against shame over disordered behaviors and thoughts around eating, exercise, and body image. These behaviors and thoughts are common. Yet, they are changeable
Indeed, nothing could be further from the truth. Countless studies show the increased prevalence of these thoughts, emotions, and feelings among all athletes, regardless of gender, sport, or other classifications. While the sheer rate and commonality of athletes struggling with body image, eating, and exercise should be grounds for reducing the shame associated with the conditions, perhaps a stronger argument on the disutility of shame would prove more productive.
Secondary to the secrecy and imprisonment of shame, shame prevents a sufferer from healing. When shame is present, it is nearly impossible to acknowledge the full scope of a problem; the ache, self-loathing, and pain are too dire to face in the blinding terror of shame. However, when we refuse to be ashamed, we are able to see our struggles fully and clearly, accept where we are, and take prudent steps forward in a journey toward healing and becoming those we aim to be.
And finally, you do not owe anyone shame. You have no dues to pay. You have no account to settle. Let us free ourselves from any notion that shame will pay a debt we owe.
In sum, I hope we are able to take up the mantle against shame over disordered behaviors and thoughts around eating, exercise, and body image. These behaviors and thoughts are common. Yet, they are changeable, so long as we disarm shame of its power.
Reach out to the Athletic Counseling Team, your athletic trainer, your team dietitian, or your team physician if you struggle with shame over body image, eating, or exercising. No struggle is too large, too small, too insurmountable. You are worthy of healing.
Take a look at U-M swim & dive alumna Kally’s story about dealing with eating and body image.
Erin is a ten-time Big Ten Individual Champion, four time NCAA runner-up, and Big Ten Medal of Honor winner in cross country and track at Michigan. She completed her eligibility in 2019 and went on to University of Michigan Medical School. She is now a first year resident in Neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She is passionate about neurology, running, and promoting an environment where food and exercise are recognized for the power, energy, joy they can produce rather than the way they make someone look.
