McKenna Braegelmann advocates mental health

Mental well being is just as important as physical in sports 

Amara Brooks / Sports Editor / The USD Vista

“You are worthy.” “You are enough.” These are just a few words USD junior McKenna Braegelmann wishes she was told when she was struggling with her mental health after suffering a sports related injury. 

At the age of 14, Braegelmann had a sports accident while pitching in a softball game that resulted in a brain bleed and skull fracture. While recovering from the injury, she discovered that the mental impacts lasted a lot longer than the physical ones. 

“At the time I didn’t know what PTSD was,” Braegelmann explained. “I would experience these panic attacks, I was so afraid to pitch. My coaches would tell me that I was horrible.” 

It wasn’t until Braegelmann attended college that these struggles became worse, causing her mental health to deteriorate rapidly, impacting her both academically and personally. During her first year at USD, she had her first experience with a psychologist. Around this time, she discovered a lot of her troubles getting back on the mound were from PTSD, and that she was also struggling with anxiety and depression. 

“As soon as I shared it, it was the most liberating feeling. I’m not saying that it went away, but it became much easier to deal with,” Braegelmann said.

Every day, athletes are faced with the ideal that they not only have to be physically strong, but they also need to have a high degree of mental toughness. For many, mental toughness translates to never showing weakness or asking for help when needed. According to the National Library of Health, 25% of college athletes have clinically relevant levels of depression symptoms. These symptoms make it harder for athletes to attend practices and class while also performing at their highest capabilities. Depression is not the only mental illness student athletes face, but it’s the most commonly reported. Other illnesses like eating disorders and anxiety disorder are becoming more prevalent among students, however student athletes are less likely than other populations to ask for help. 

This stigma around mental toughness in sports makes it that much harder for athletes to vocalize and ask for support. Many athletes around the world from various sports have started to use their platforms as a space to share their vulnerable experiences where they struggled with their mental health. Athletes like Michael Phelps and Hope Solo publicly share their struggles with topics like depression, anxiety, ADHD and addiction. Knowing athletes at the top of their game also struggle with their mental health has started to change the discourse around mental toughness.

In 2021 Simone Biles received criticism during the Tokyo Olympics when she withdrew from the competition in order to focus on her mental health. Biles stated that she plans to return  for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Sharing experiences has been a huge way for other athletes to take the first step in asking for help. 

Throughout Braegelmann’s journey of getting help she started to reflect on ways she’d wish the journey could’ve been made easier for her. 

“I realized how alone I felt in the process and if I would’ve known about anxiety, depression and PTSD….. I could have done different things to cope or just even talk about it more.” 

She shared that a lot of her journey felt as though she was suffering in silence for so long, because she thought no one would understand what she was going through. Upon realizing that many athletes feel the same, Braegelmann started to share her story and advocate for the importance of mental health conversations in sports. 

“My hope was to touch one person, not even a lot of people,” Braegelmann explained. 

Along with her personal Instagram, Braegelmann has started her own company and “The Words I Wish I’d Heard” project which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Through this project she has partnered with a company in Canada to curate sweatshirts with affirmative words and phrases that Braegelmann would often journal when going through her own journey. 

Braegelmann shares how throughout her time at USD, the university’s athletic department has also placed mental health advocacy at the forefront of every sport. 

“We have these workshops with sports psychologists and they come and talk about a topic in a group setting,” Braegelmann shared. “Some of those topics are like communication with your teammates, communication with your coaches and stress management. We even have a nutritionist on staff that is able to talk about a little bit of the nutritionist side of things and how to get what we need.”

Currently, the University has three sports psychologists and one therapist who focus on student athletes mental health and wellness. 

Student athletes are not required to visit these psychologists, but then are highly encouraged to seek out these resources if needed. The sports psychologists help athletes improve and develop the tools needed for performance excellence, by focusing on skills such as effective team work, visualization and stress management. 

Recently, Braegelmann and the rest of the USD softball team have used post-it notes in an effort to continue to spread positivity around campus. The notes contain positive messages and affirmations and are placed around various campus buildings. 

It is important to continue to advocate for mental health support in sports. By diminishing the stigma around mental toughness and sports other athletes will be able to understand that they are not alone in their struggles. 

In sharing her final words she wishes she’d heard, McKenna Braegelmann wants other athletes to know, “Everyone’s fighting that silent battle and if you are fighting that silent battle, there is hope. There is light at the end of the tunnel. And to always remember that you’re loved, you’re worthy, you’re enough and your mental health so matters.”