Bowling Green State University football team’s wide receiver Malcolm Johnson, Jr., founder of “Start a Conversation,” is launching a nationwide initiative to raise awareness about the alarming rates of mental health concerns being seen among student-athletes.

He is asking student-athletes across the country to wear specially designed mental health apparel on Monday, October 7, which is part of Student-Athlete Mental Health Week. The goal in this regard is to show solidarity and care and concern for the mental health of all young people.

“As student-athletes we’re in a unique position to influence the broader culture on our college campus’ due to the prominent status we have and because we already have contact with the athletic community and the general student body”, said Johnson.

“Getting student-athletes to lead such a movement is powerful because we have a such a large voice on campus that we can use to truly make a difference in the mental health space.”

Student-athletes commit themselves on an everyday basis to strength training, endurance training, general conditioning and nutrition, coming early and staying late at practices.

Pressure on the field is something they know how to deal with. That’s an everyday part of being an athlete. Quite frankly they love it. They thrive on the pressure situations their athletic endeavors put them in.

“As student-athletes we’ve worked hard to compete at such an elite level. In many cases, this has been a lifelong devotion to achieving our personal best”, said Johnson, “and that has not only been a personal sacrifice, but also a commitment and sacrifice from our families, friends, coaches, and trainers who have poured into us as well.

“We have a deep sense of responsibility and obligation to those who have enabled us to chase our dreams.”

Johnson says being a student-athlete is demanding. The things they have done to reach such a peak level of performance can literally be seen in their bodies and in their performances on the fields of play.

But one thing that can’t be seen are the off-the-field stresses and mental health related challenges they sometimes face. In fact, data confirms that student-athletes are at greater risk for substance abuse, social anxiety, and eating disorders than other students.

Their unseen struggles often lie in deeply personal matters. The dream of making it to the professional level can be both motivating and daunting. Dreams, which in many cases are also those of their families who are counting on them to make it to the next level.

They also have to balance academics and athletics, and their personal life, which can sometimes feel like a never-ending race against the clock. And their ability to find time to be with their friends is sometimes impossible.

While they understand and embrace the passion of their fans, public scrutiny, and negative comments on social media after a tough game can hit harder than any physical blow.

So, what can student-athletes do to deal with it all so that they can perform at an elite level physically and mentally?

To that, Johnson says, “It begins with the power of understanding and then the power of conversation. But it won’t be easy as data shows that only 10% of student-athletes with known mental health conditions currently seek care from a mental health professional.

“And I can understand that. As athletes we never want to reveal weakness of any kind on the field. But we must separate our on the field persona from who we are as a human being. We must see that our mental well-being is just as crucial as our physical fitness.

“Enhancing our mental health and utilizing learning tools to manage mental health can be the push we need to take our game to the next level. The ‘1% better’ that may allow us to achieve our wildest dreams.”

Some easy ways to start a conversation include:

1. Find Your Support System: Whether it’s teammates, friends, family members, or mental health professionals — find people who will listen without judgment.

2. Be Honest with Yourself: Recognize when you’re feeling off-balance mentally or emotionally. Self-awareness is key to seeking help.

3. Seek Professional Help: There’s no shame in talking to a counselor or psychologist — they’re trained to help guide you through tough times.

“Opening up about our mental health doesn’t make us weak”, said Johnson, “it makes us human. By sharing our experiences, we’re taking control over something that often feels uncontrollable.

“The mission behind this initiative is to encourage everyone to talk about their mental health concerns without having any judgement placed on them. Our goal is to take elite level athletes to the next level while also using the athletics pulpit to raise awareness of the rising rates of mental health concerns among all young people.”

As the Start a Conversation team supports Student-Athlete Mental Health Awareness Week, BGSU Athletics says it honors and respect the great works of the Hilinksi’s Hope Foundation whivh first began this nationwide initiative which is dedicated to a collective week of action focused on eliminating stigma and increasing mental health resources for universities and colleges nationwide.