The majority of youth athletes ages 12-18 have experienced some form of declining mental health. According to current mental health reports by the British Journal of Sports Medicine, 6.7% of athletes have experienced anxiety, 9.5% have experienced depression and 23% have experienced multiple symptoms during their lifetime. Oak Park High School senior and varsity athlete Avery Mansmann formed her club, Breaking the Stigma, to advocate for student-athlete mental health. 

“I started this club due to my own struggles with mental health last season,” Mansmann said. “Although it was a struggle for me, I knew I wasn’t alone, and I wanted to be able to educate people to get the resources and help they need. Through my club, I’ve been able to make connections with other student-athletes and let them know they are not alone.” 

At club meetings, discussions, events and personal thoughts are shared and athletes visit for presentations. Certain events are planned and updated on the club’s Instagram account, @ophs_breakingthestigma. Speakers like Brigitte Shulze, one of the founders of the Sarah Shulze Foundation, and Lily Rosen, an advocate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness,  have spoken during these meetings to talk about mental health, whether it’s about their own mental health experiences or their loved ones. 

“Trigger warning, but as social media has progressed, suicide rates have as well,” Mansmann said. “It’s important to get information and resources out to prevent situations like these and to get rid of the negative stigma associated with student-athlete mental health.”

Mansmann’s favorite part of her club is the events club members get to bring to life. 

These events are for everyone and are intended to help those in need and to educate those who might not understand this issue. On Wednesday, Dec. 13, girls soccer hosted the Sarah Schulze Foundation and Katie Saves Foundation. Fans were encouraged to wear green in support of mental health awareness for an event organized in part by the OPHS club.