As the U.S. faces a mental health crisis, one therapist is telling WTOP that practicing mindfulness strategies could vastly improve struggles.<\/p>\n
Regardless of their greatness on or off the ice, athletes are working on more than their physical well-being. They are also attempting to improve their mental health.\n<\/p>\n
Dr. Kurt Ela, a licensed clinical psychologist and assistant professor in the outpatient programs at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, told WTOP that it is crucial to discuss mental health in all avenues, including sports, as the struggles remain and the consequences may be dire.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do think it\u2019s a universal challenge,\u201d Ela said. \u201cMental health can affect the young, it can affect the old, it can affect everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ela, who also serves as the Washington Capitals\u2019 therapist, will join a panel on athletes\u2019 mental health following a special screening of \u201cShattered Ice\u201d on Sunday, March 8, at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre in Northwest, D.C.<\/a> The film<\/a> centers on a teenage hockey player navigating life after his best friend and the team\u2019s best player dies by suicide.<\/p>\n Films like \u201cShattered Ice\u201d are important for spreading the message about mental health awareness, Ela said. However, its messaging can resonate better with younger audiences and connect on a personal level versus talking to a professional.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s still a taboo around suicide and around mental illness,\u201d he said. \u201cA film like this really gets the word out that it\u2019s not only OK to talk about mental health, but it\u2019s crucial.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018They\u2019re not alone\u2019<\/p>\n Ela said the numbers show that the United States is dealing with \u201ca mental health crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n According to a 2023 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a>, two in 10 high school students seriously contemplated suicide, while 40% had \u201cpersistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re talking big numbers,\u201d Ela said. \u201cMost of our youth are really struggling right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Sports are slowly getting better at discussing mental health topics, Ela said. Multiple athletes, including basketball star Kyrie Irving, gymnast Simone Biles and figure skater Ilia Malinin, have spoken about their struggles in the spotlight of their respective fields.<\/p>\n Despite some advances, mental health struggles remain underreported overall, Ela said. One common thread among most people, including athletes, dealing with mental health problems is a reluctance to admit when they are struggling.<\/p>\n \u201cThey think that, \u2018well, if I keep working hard, if I keep pushing through, if I keep winning or keep scoring goals,\u2019 or whatever their sport is, that everything is going to be OK,\u201d Ela said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey lose sight of the bigger picture that they\u2019d actually play much better, they\u2019d function much, much better if they were happier and really enjoying their sport and their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n Other common signs some athletes display include being hard on themselves, withdrawing from teammates, being self-critical, not getting enough sleep and not eating enough.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen that starts to happen, we start to worry that their mental health is really deteriorating, and they may not be doing very well from a wellness standpoint,\u201d Ela said.<\/p>\n Practicing mindfulness strategies<\/p>\n Athletes with healthy mental states can recalibrate and focus on becoming the best athletes they can be, Ela said. That can be learned through mindfulness strategies that emphasize reflection and learning from each experience. That ability to reflect also allows them to focus on their sport and their relationships off the field.<\/p>\n \u201cThey do have emotions, of course, and they might be anxious before games, just like any of us, but they\u2019re able to really put it in perspective,\u201d Ela said. \u201cThey\u2019re able to see the anxiety as probably excitement that they want to do well and that it\u2019s motivating for them, as opposed to something that can hold them back.\u201d<\/p>\n For adults dealing with young athletes, Ela recommended being patient and consistently asking how they are doing. Their demanding schedules, filled with practices and competitions, may not be as easy for them to handle. When someone is going through an injury, practicing mindfulness strategies and avoiding negative self-talk will keep the recovery process on track.<\/p>\n The key, Ela said, is to talk about it.<\/p>\n \u201cI think a lot of people still feel that they want to white-knuckle through this, or that it\u2019s going to get better magically on its own,\u201d he said. \u201cThe truth of the matter is it can get better, and there is a lot of help available, but you have to work at it, and you have to find support when you need it, and that\u2019s a good thing.\u201d<\/p>\n The most important thing for anybody, not just athletes, to understand is that they are not alone when struggling with mental health. Ela said the hope is they have a trusted friend or someone they can depend on to talk to. If not, getting help from a professional or calling a crisis hotline are options if they don\u2019t feel safe talking to anyone.<\/p>\n \u201cAthletes struggle with mental health concerns. We all struggle with mental health concerns,\u201d Ela said. \u201cIt\u2019s important that people know that they\u2019re not alone, and to know that there\u2019s help available, that no one has to go through mental health challenges alone.\u201d<\/p>\n If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.<\/p>\n Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a9 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.<\/p>\n