The weight of expectations and the challenges of balancing academic rigor with athletic excellence are familiar territory for Stanford University’s student-athletes. To address the crucial need for mental health support in this demanding environment, the seventh annual GameFACES event, organized by Stanford Athletics as part of Mental Health Awareness Month, took center stage on Tuesday evening.
Held at Meyer Green, GameFACES served as a platform for student-athletes to come together, celebrate their community’s resilience, and engage in candid conversations about the unique struggles they face. The event featured a panel comprising seven students from various sports, who courageously shared personal stories of resilience and triumph over mental health adversities.
Mikayla Chen, a senior lightweight rower, kicked off the evening by recounting her journey of advocating for the reinstatement of the rowing team while grappling with her parents’ divorce from afar. Chen’s narrative set the tone for a series of heartfelt accounts that shed light on the profound impact of mental health challenges on athletes’ lives both on and off the field.
Andrea Kitahata, a redshirt sophomore forward on the women’s soccer team, bravely shared her struggle with grief following the passing of her teammate, Katie Meyer. Kitahata candidly expressed the internal conflict she faced, torn between suppressing her emotions to focus on her athletic career and acknowledging the need to confront her pain.
Throughout the evening, student-athletes highlighted the pivotal role of faith and mental health resources in their journeys towards healing and self-discovery. Brandy Atuatasi, a senior thrower, emphasized the strength she derived from her faith in navigating the loss of loved ones, while Hunter Hollenbeck, a senior diver, credited Stanford Sport Psychology for guiding him through a transformative period of self-reflection.
Sophia Sanders, a junior driver on the women’s water polo team, emphasized the therapeutic value of seeking professional help in overcoming depression. Sanders’ testimony echoed the sentiment shared by many athletes who have found solace and empowerment through mental health counseling services offered by Stanford Sports Psychology.
For Regan McDonnell, a fifth-year rower, and Nick Woehrle, a senior rower, triumph over personal challenges served as testaments to resilience and the power of vulnerability. McDonnell’s triumphant return to her sport after overcoming a nerve condition and grieving the loss of her father, alongside Woehrle’s journey towards recovery from anorexia, exemplified the resilience embedded within Stanford’s athletic community.
Reflecting on the significance of events like GameFACES, former swimmer Neel Roy emphasized the importance of fostering a supportive community where athletes can openly discuss mental health struggles. Roy underscored the value of shared experiences in combatting feelings of isolation and promoting collective well-being among student-athletes.
While acknowledging that GameFACES marked only the beginning of efforts to prioritize mental health in athletics, participants stressed its role in fostering dialogue, raising awareness, and providing a supportive platform for those in need. As Stanford Athletics continues to champion mental health initiatives, events like GameFACES serve as beacons of hope and solidarity within the university’s athletic community.
