ATHLETES and DEPRESSION
Abstract
The global pandemic resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak affords researchers an opportunity to study depression as an increase of depressive episodes has been found across the globe. Multiple studies have focused on the impact these episodes have on society, collectively and individually. For many, depression as a disease is still an unknown quantity. Most people are less aware of the causes, symptoms, and treatments of depression. Social stigma surrounding depression combined with this lack of knowledge creates an issue for depression suffers who either spend their time trying to explain what depression is and how it impacts their daily life, or they simply decide not to discuss it all. With depression, silence can exacerbate the condition leading to less productivity and eventually a worsening of the condition. One area worthy of study will be how COVID-19 impacted the mental health of athletes. For athletes at any level from youth to professional, depression has always been the topic nobody wanted to talk about. Many athletes determined that silence about their condition was preferred to ostracization, whispers about their issues, and concerns about their performance. This paper provides relevant cases of athletes suffering from depression with a renewed focus on the pandemic on athletes’ mental health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns about mental health and substance use have grown, including concerns about suicidal ideation. In January 2021, 41% of adults reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder, a share that has been largely stable since spring 2020. (Nirmita). The 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) offers startling details and statistics on the impact depression has in the United States. The NSDUH study definition of major depressive episode is based mainly on the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) which offers A period of at least two weeks when a person experienced a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities, and had a majority of specified symptoms, such as problems with sleep, eating, energy, concentration, or self-worth. (NIMH). The study revealed the following: An estimated 17.3 million adults in the United States had at least one major depressive episode. This number represented 7.1% of all U.S. adults. The prevalence of major depressive episode was higher among adult females (8.7%) compared to males (5.3%).