Don’t Forget Your Mental Health Playbook!

Being a college student-athlete is an incredible experience that can mold the foundation of one’s future. The trick to exceling in this space requires the student-athlete to explore what it means to be a whole person- someone who can integrate the various aspects their experiences and grow holistically. A whole person is someone who can acknowledge they are more than just an athlete. This turns out to not be such an easy task- especially for those whose image of what it means to be great is skewed by others perception of their invincibility. This pressure to balance it all and to find your breath was described well by Coach Jay Clark when interviewed for “The Climb.”

LSU Athletics Assistant Athletics Director and Director of Student-Athlete Mental Health Dr. LaKeitha Poole was recently interviewed for the June 2023 Women’s Health Magazine to discuss her experiences working with elite athletes. To train, perform, and sometimes win while balancing the responsibilities of being a young adult who is representing a family, a team, a university, and a future can sometimes feel like carrying a 10 pound weight in a backpack. But it doesn’t have to always feel this way. Dr. Poole offers up some practical advice to help stay grounded.

For support and guidance throughout your college career as an LSU student-athlete, reach out to your resources. It’s often the hardest step, but the most rewarding.

Sport Psychology & Counseling: GeauxBeWell@lsu.edu