RepMax Media
No. 02 — The Mental Rep

You are not your sport.

The same grit that makes you an athlete can make it hard to ask for help. It shouldn't. Every week on RepMax we cover wins and losses — this page is for everything in between. Real resources, real people who pick up, and stories from athletes who've been where you are.

Reach out now →Read storiesBrowse resources
Student-athlete — swap via Media Library
The strong play
Ask for help.
Student-athlete — swap via Media Library
The team
You're not alone.
Mental health is part of the game
If it's a crisis right now
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741
SAMHSA National Helpline
1-800-662-4357
The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ youth)
Call 1-866-488-7386
02
Check in with yourself

The signs — good and bad

Elite athletes are trained to push through. That same instinct can mask warning signs. Here's what thriving looks like, and what to pay attention to.

You're thriving when…
  • ✓Sleeping well — 8+ hours most nights
  • ✓Looking forward to practice and games
  • ✓Eating regular meals, fueling workouts
  • ✓Staying connected with teammates outside sport
  • ✓Taking losses hard but bouncing back within a day or two
  • ✓Having at least one person you'd talk to if things got heavy
  • ✓Enjoying something outside the sport too
Watch for these
  • ⚠Dreading practice more days than not
  • ⚠Sleep is broken or chronically too little/too much
  • ⚠Pulling away from friends, family, or the team
  • ⚠Loss of appetite — or eating to cope instead of fuel
  • ⚠Injuries that won't heal (or ones you won't report)
  • ⚠Rage or crying that feels out of proportion
  • ⚠Thoughts of hurting yourself, or wishing you didn't exist
If any of these have been true for more than two weeks, talk to someone. Start with a parent, coach, counselor, or one of the numbers above.
Build the habit of thriving
  • ◆Name one teammate and one adult you'd talk to if you were struggling
  • ◆Sleep is a skill — dark room, consistent bedtime, no phone in bed
  • ◆Fuel every 3–4 hours. Carbs + protein. Not optional.
  • ◆Schedule at least 1 hour/week of something non-sport that brings you joy
  • ◆Journal 3 lines before bed: won, struggled, grateful
  • ◆If you can't remember the last time you laughed, that's the signal
  • ◆Talk to your coach — they want to know. This isn't weakness.
03
The directory

Organizations built for athletes

Not a random list — these are vetted organizations specifically serving student athletes, coaches, and families. Bookmark them. Share them.

Athlete-specific mental health nonprofit

The Hidden Opponent →

Advocacy and resources built BY athletes FOR athletes. Student-run chapters, open conversations, stigma-busting.

Education + support groups

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) →

HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) — or text HelpLine to 62640 — Monday-Friday 10am-10pm ET.

Teen & young adult mental health

Jed Foundation →

Emotional health resources, Common App mental health info, campus partnership network for college-bound athletes.

Youth athlete mental training

TrueSport →

Resources on mental toughness, sportsmanship, and coping with pressure — for youth & HS coaches and parents.

College athletes

NCAA Mental Health Resources →

NCAA best-practices, sport-specific guides, and the SSI (Student-Athlete Well-Being) framework.

Student-athlete community

Morgan's Message →

Founded in memory of Morgan Rodgers. Chapters across hundreds of campuses normalize the conversation.

04
Stories from the community

Inspiring stories & coverage

Athletes, coaches, and parents talking openly about the part of the game that doesn't show up in the box score. Pulled from RepMax and trusted outlets covering mental health in sports.

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More reading — trusted outlets

For deeper dives, check The Hidden Opponent, Jed Foundation, Morgan's Message, and NCAA mental health resources. Every outlet in our resource directory above links to their article library too.

Reach out. You are worth it.

One phone call. One text. One honest conversation with a teammate or coach. That's all it takes to break the silence. The people on the other end of these lines have helped thousands of athletes — they want to help you too.

📞 Call 988💬 Text HOME to 741741