Marblehead High School student-athlete Maddie Forbes knows the pressure of earning good grades and performing at a high level on the field or court.
Forbes feels the stress “when school work is piled up and the team is going through some troubles… just a bunch of factors that pile up on top of each other,” she said.
A junior who plays basketball and lacrosse, Forbes and three friends launched a local chapter of Morgan’s Message, a national nonprofit dedicated to eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community. The group also aims to equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics.
“It’s about realizing that you’re more than an athlete; you’re also a human,” Forbes explained. “Being a human comes before being an athlete. You’re more than just your performance on the field.”
Morgan Rodgers was a lacrosse player at Duke University. She struggled with mental health issues in high school and did well with treatment. But in January 2017, just before the beginning of her sophomore season, she suffered a dream-shattering knee injury. She spent the next 12 months determined to return to the field, undergoing surgery and dedicating herself to an intensive rehab program.
Rodgers struggled with the abrupt change and felt she had lost control within her life. This time, she didn’t tell anyone and suffered alone until she died by suicide in July of 2019. She was 22 years old.
Marblehead psychologist Melissa Kaplowitch, who serves on the Marblehead Mental Health Task Force, agrees that student-athletes face immense pressure.
“Often, students struggle to find the time to do it all,” Kaplowitch said. “Without effective coping skills, supports and resources, we see increases in anxiety, depression, substance use and suicidal ideation. Rather than seek help, some students suffer in silence because of the shame or guilt they feel or because they fear disappointing their family or teammates.”
As a Morgan’s Message ambassador, Forbes leads meetings where “we talk about Morgan’s message. There’s a podcast called ‘The Mental Matchup,’ where they interview people and athletes who have struggled with mental health. We listen to those.”
Forbes organized what’s called a “dedication game” at a recent MHS-Beverly High School basketball game where ambassadors spoke about Morgan’s Message to the crowd and wore special T-shirts. Forbes hopes to plan another dedication game during lacrosse season this spring.
“As teammates, we support each other,” she said about how student-athletes cope with stress. “We talk about how making a mistake doesn’t define you. All sports are pretty much a mental game. It’s about being in the right mindset.”
MHS math teacher Caroline Faherty is the faculty advisor for Morgan’s Message. She is the former coach of the girls’ basketball team.
“Having a club that is focused on student-athletes is so empowering because being a student-athlete is not easy and it is not always easy to share the hardships,” Faherty told the Current. “This club gets the word out that student athletes are not alone in this and have a safe space to go when life gets hard trying to balance school and sports.”
Kaplowitch has this reminder about why it’s important to seek help.
“If an athlete sustains a physical injury, they seek treatment from a doctor,” she said. “We have to normalize seeking treatment for emotional injuries in the same way. Doing so can save lives. In the event of a mental health emergency students should call 9-8-8 for immediate assistance.”
Forbes encourages student-athletes dealing with stress, depression and any mental health issues to reach out.
“If you are struggling, you’re not struggling alone,” she said.
Learn more about Morgan’s Message at MorgansMessage.org. The MHS chapter has an Instagram page at @Morgan_Message_MHS.
