Strong on the Outside, Struggling on the Inside: Suicide Prevention for Athletes

What we don’t always see during Suicide Prevention Month, and why it matters:

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. And every year, the headlines remind us that anyone can be struggling. Even those who look like they have it all together.

That includes athletes. But when it comes to suicide prevention for athletes, the signs are often more subtle, and easier to miss.

High school, college and professional athletes are often praised for being strong, resilient, and focused. They’re expected to push through pressure, bounce back from setbacks, and keep their emotions in check. On the outside, they may look confident, disciplined, and composed. But on the inside? Many are quietly overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or slipping into a kind of mental numbness they don’t know how to talk about.

Why We Miss It

Athletic culture doesn’t exactly make room for emotional honesty. From an early age, athletes are taught to push through pain, shake it off, and stay mentally tough. For those who already struggle to express emotion, that message can reinforce silence, and lead to a deep sense of isolation. Over time, that isolation can grow into hopelessness or even suicidal thoughts. But those thoughts don’t always sound the way we expect. Sometimes they come out as: “I just feel done.”“It wouldn’t matter if I disappeared.”“I don’t care what happens to me anymore.”

They might not use the word ‘suicide,’ or even recognize it as that. But that doesn’t mean they’re okay. Because the truth is, you don’t have to be in a visible crisis to need support. And you don’t have to say it out loud for something to be hurting.

How It Shows Up in Athletes

Suicidal ideation doesn’t always look like a dramatic decline. In athletes, it might look like:

• Pulling away from teammates

• Losing interest in things they used to care about

• Becoming overly rigid, intense, or emotionally flat

• Hiding behind humor or overachievement

• Saying “I’m fine” when nothing is fine
  

These signs can be easy to overlook, especially if an athlete is still showing up to practice, performing well, or keeping their grades up. But functioning doesn’t mean success, and it definitely doesn’t always mean they’re okay.

What Makes Athletes Vulnerable

There are a few specific pressures that can make athletes especially at risk:

• Identity fusion: When someone’s whole self-worth is tied to who they are as an athlete, then changes in performance, injuries, being benched, or body changes can feel like personal failure—not just setbacks, but proof that they’re not enough.
  

• Perfectionism and overcontrol: Many athletes thrive on structure and high standards. These traits are often praised, and even necessary, for success in competitive environments. But when emotions become overwhelming or unpredictable, perfectionism and overcontrol can turn into coping strategies. Over time, that same discipline can backfire, leaving little room for rest, vulnerability, or self-compassion when things get hard.
  

• Lack of emotional language: Athletes aren’t often given space to name softer emotions like shame, sadness, or fear—so those feelings get pushed down and ignored.
  

• Fear of consequences: Admitting they’re struggling might feel risky, like they’ll be seen as weak, lose playing time, or disappoint people they care about.

What Helps

If you’re supporting an athlete—whether you're a parent, coach, or provider, how you show up for them matters. You don’t have to have the perfect words or fix anything. What helps most is creating a space where it feels safe for them to be open and vulnerable. That might sound like, “You don’t have to be the strong one all the time,” or simply asking, “How are you actually doing?” These small moments can open the door for them to feel more comfortable sharing what’s really going on. And a simple, “You can always come to me,” can go further than you think.

And if you’re an athlete reading this, you need to know: You are more than your performance, your body, or your role on the team. You don’t have to wait for things to get worse to ask for help. And you don’t have to explain or justify why you’re hurting to deserve support.

Suicide prevention isn’t just about emergency hotlines and crisis interventions. It’s also about the quiet moments: the long practices, the unspoken pressure, the “I’m fine” that doesn’t feel true. Athletes may be trained to perform under pressure, but that doesn’t mean they’re immune to pain. So if someone you know on your team, in your family, or in your waiting room says they’re doing okay but something feels off, check in. Don’t wait for it to get worse.  And if you’re the one struggling behind the scenes, this is your reminder: you’re allowed to ask for help. Feeling suicidal doesn’t mean you’ve failed. it means something in you is hurting, and that hurt deserves care. If things ever feel especially heavy and you don’t feel comfortable reaching out to someone you know, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline anytime. It’s free, confidential, and available 24/7.