The Link Between Perfectionism and College Athlete Suicide

Not everyone can handle pressure, especially the pressure that college athletes face. This pressure has caused several college athletes and perfectionists to have mental health challenges and ultimately take their own life. Having such high expectations to live up to at such a young age harms one’s self-worth, how they view themselves, and how they cope with failures.  

Perfectionism is not functional

Perfectionism can actually be a motivating factor for many people. However, perfectionists often set goals for themselves that are nearly impossible to achieve because they believe it is expected. So, perfectionism becomes dysfunctional when people, especially the youth, place their self-worth into what they achieve. Perfectionists are extremely hard on themselves and when they fail, depression, anxiety, or fears of never being good enough may arise. 

Many athletes are perfectionists. They push their bodies to another level with each match, game, or competition that they have. Having to live up to what they believe is expected of them takes its toll. These amazing athletes are struggling behind the curtain by focusing on the failures or pressure that they experience. As time has progressed, more and more athletes seem to be speaking out about mental health and their experiences.

In March of this year, Ohio State University football player Harry Miller announced that he would be medically retiring due to his mental health struggles. Michael Phelps, an Olympic athlete who has won numerous medals, has also talked about his struggle with anxiety, depression, and thoughts about suicide. 

Signs to watch for:

Here are a few signs you can watch out for if you believe your child may be a perfectionist and/or at a higher risk of suicide.

• Children who spend a lot of time on one goal/activity; so much so that it is at the expense of friendships, family, etc. 
• Look for signs of depression or anxiety that may be affecting their performance at school or in other areas.
• Feelings of hopelessness or being burdensome 
• Trouble sleeping 
• Withdrawing from others 

Perfectionism itself is not a bad thing, but it can put young people at risk for mental health problems and suicide as they grow older, attend college, and have more responsibilities in everyday life.  

How to help perfectionists build a healthy balance of activities 

Introduce children to new hobbies to see if they take an interest. When you have many interests and opportunities, a failure in one area will have less of an impact, especially on perfectionists. Having a healthy balance of hobbies, activities, and passions is beneficial for kids to be able to focus on multiple things such as developing life skills and coping mechanisms.

• Set realistic goals that are achievable; don’t put too much pressure on yourself
• Reflect on the victories and losses that you have had and that you could have; think about how you might cope. 
• Establish a routine before you go to college/get older so you can feel confident and ready to handle the stress that comes with starting college.

References:

https://www.today.com/health/mind-body/perfectionism-suicide-risk-parents-know-rcna28487

Edited by: Intern Jillian Meloro