Stanford’s Katie Meyer felt ‘pressure’ ahead of death, her mother says
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Stanford soccer star Katie Meyer was remembered by her friends and family as a promising young star who lived life to the fullest. But her bright smile may have hidden the mental health struggles she battled behind the scenes. Many student-athletes can relate.
Meyer, a 22-year-old senior who led the Cardinal to the 2019 national championship, was found dead on Tuesday in an on-campus residence. Her parents confirmed she died by suicide. Although her parents said they saw “no red flags” before her death, Gina and Steven Meyer said their daughter “had a lot on her plate.”
“There’s so much pressure I think on athletes, right, especially at that high level balancing academics and a high competitive environment,” Meyer’s mother, Gina Meyer, said during an emotional interview on NBC’s “TODAY” show on Friday. “There is anxiety and there is stress to be perfect, to be the best, to be number one.”
Despite superhuman feats of athleticism, athletes are still human and vulnerable to psychological distress, like everyone else. Talking about mental health has often been taboo in sports and viewed as a weakness, but stars like Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles have showed strength in coming forward with their experiences to destigmatize mental health.
But there’s still a lack of support on the collegiate level. The rate of depression and anxiety has doubled among college students over the past decade, according to a Healthy Minds Study conducted in part by Daniel Eisenberg, Professor of Health Policy and Management at UCLA.
Eisenberg told USA TODAY Sports Friday that news of Meyer’s death “hit a little close to home.” He played on the Stanford men’s soccer team from 1993-1995: “It’s so sad,” he said.
OFFICIALS: Stanford women’s soccer star Katie Meyer died by suicide
KATIE MEYER’S PARENTS open up about Stanford soccer star’s death by suicide
Many student-athletes feel ‘overwhelmed’
College students across the country are dealing with depression and anxiety at a higher rate, a trend that has continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, said Eisenberg, who described financial hardships, relationships, stress and social issues as contributing factors.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are “the most prevalent psychiatric problems among college students.”
Being a student-athlete comes with even more responsibilities.
An NCAA survey in 2019 found that nearly 30% of participating female student-athletes felt difficulties were piling up so high that they could not overcome them. Only 37% of female student-athletes reported being satisfied with the mental health care received from team or college medical personnel, compared to 46% of males.
For student-athletes, an emphasis is placed on performance instead of overall well-being. There’s often intense pressure to succeed with little consideration on the mental toll it takes to get there. It can become an athlete’s identity and determine their value.
“It’s a double edged sword when we have our identity tied up in our performance,” Eisenberg said. “It can become distressful when we focus too much on the performance or how we stack up against other people, not just in sports but any area of life.”
Growing up on a national stage with all eyes on every success and every failure can add to emotional distress in the age of social media, which can serve as a vehicle for praise and admiration, as well as bullying.
“I’m a little more sympathetic for the athletes, especially the kids at Duke,” Boston Celtics star and Duke alum Jayson Tatum said last month. “I think we forget sometimes that most of those (college) kids are 18 and 19. We expect so much from them. I was in that exact situation and you tend to forget they are (teens).”
MORE:Stanford goalkeeper Katie Meyer found dead in on-campus residence
‘Increase of awareness and comfort’
Eisenberg said there are some plus sides to social media. The platform allows people to open up about their own personal battles so others suffering know they are not alone.
“We talk about the troubling trends with young people but I think a really positive trend is the increase of awareness and comfort in discussing mental health and seeking help,” Eisenberg said. “There is a lot of research that supports the idea that knowledge and attitudes related to mental health can improve when we learn about other people’s stories.”
Heather Dyche, head coach of the University of New Mexico women’s soccer team, said Meyer’s death is a reminder that “everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”
“Rest In Peace Katie,” Dyche said. “If you can be anything in this world, be kind. Check on your friends, tell people you love them, and ask for help.”
Meyer’s death coincided with Self-injury Awareness Day (SIAD), a day to raise awareness and understanding about self-harm and self-injury.
If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) any time day or night, or chat online.
Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.
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