Locked In

Why Athletes Need Mental Performance Coaching

High Rates of Anxiety and Depression

• About 45% of adolescent athletes report symptoms of anxiety or depression.

  (Source: Athlete mental health research summary)

• Studies show 15–21% of college athletes experience depression.

  (Source: College athlete mental health studies)

• Research on athletes aged 18-25 found:

  • 64.5% reported anxiety

  • 62.9% reported depression symptoms

    (Source: Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 2025)

Why coaching matters: Athletes need tools to manage thoughts, emotions, and pressure before problems become performance or life issues.

Mental Health Impacts Performance Directly

Student-athletes commonly struggle with:

• Anxiety

• Mood disorders

• Substance use

• Suicidal thoughts

  (Source: Counseling Degrees Online student athlete mental health guide)

  
  

Why coaching matters:Mental performance training teaches:

• Emotional regulation

• Focus reset skills

• Confidence routines

• Pressure management

Many Athletes Do Not Seek Help

• Only about 25% of athletes seek mental health help when needed.

  (Source: athlete mental health statistics summary)

Why coaching matters:Mental performance coaching often removes stigma because athletes see it as performance training, not counseling.

Suicide Risk Is a Real Concern

• Suicide accounted for about 7.3% of deaths among NCAA athletes in a long-term study.

  (Source: NCAA athlete mortality research)

• Suicide is also one of the leading causes of death among college-age individuals (18-22).

  (Source: NCAA research review)

Important context:Athletes sometimes have slightly lower suicide rates than non-athletes, but still face major mental health risks due to pressure and identity tied to performance.

Why coaching matters:Mental skills training teaches:

• Identity beyond sport

• Coping with failure

• Emotional communication

• Stress management

When Mental Health Struggles Increase (Age Trends)

High School (Approx. ages 14-18)

Mental health struggles often begin here due to:

• Identity development

• Performance pressure

• Recruiting stress

• Social comparison

Stats:

• About 31.9% of youth experience anxiety disorders.

  (Source: National youth mental health data summary)

• 30–60% of athletes experience performance anxiety.

  (Source: sports psychology reviews)

College (Approx. ages 18-25) — Risk Often Increases

College is considered a high-risk period because athletes face:

• Academic pressure

• Loss of support systems

• Higher competition levels

• Injury risk

• Identity pressure

Stats:

• Over 30% of college students report significant depression symptoms.

  (Source: American College Health Association research summary)

• Depression and anxiety prevalence is highest in ages 18-25 compared to older adults.

  (Source: National Institute of Mental Health data summary)

• About 28% of collegiate athletes experience burnout.

  (Source: athlete mental health summaries)

Stress Levels Are Extremely High

• About 60% of athletes report significant stress related to sport.

  (Source: athlete mental health summaries)

• 91% of high school athletes report stress related to performance.

  (Source: youth athlete mental health summaries)

Why coaching matters:Most athletes are never taught:

• How to process pressure

• How to reset mentally

• How to communicate stress

• How to stay confident after mistakes