How the Coronavirus Pandemic Continues to Impact Student-Athletes' Mental Health
This study examines the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on student-athletes’ mental health and determines the need for dedicated mental health support for this population. Survey data indicated two thirds reported a decline in mental health during the pandemic. Of the students polled, 86.7% were open to the idea of utilizing an athletic counselor while 51.1% suggested they would definitely utilize athletic counseling services. Individual interviews with different faculty members within different segments of athletics indicated an increased need for a counselor for these student-athletes and also showed having one would raise the potential of students choosing this university over competitors. This paper recommends having a part-time counselor which is predicted to help the university retain eight to ten student-athletes from each cohort and potentially recruit up to five additional student-athletes.