General mental health practice is well studied within academia, but the study of the specifics of caring for elite athletes is just in its infancy. Mental health will likely become something everyone must worry about at some point in their lives, but for athletes, there are different pressures and stresses that must be specifically addressed. To start, the modern athlete in America garners a significant amount of media attention, more than most other professions. Although thi

Recently, in conversations surrounding business and mental health, burnout has become a buzzword, but what does it actually mean? The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic made many rethink their daily lives, in particular their jobs, and their mental health. Now, as many individuals are reluctant to return to the workspace, they cite burnout as their main reason why. Burnout is caused by severe repeated stress and constant high expectations according to the National Center of Biote

For athletes stuck in a situation that deteriorates their mental health, the transfer portal offers new opportunities to change lives. For years, college athletes were essentially owned by the universities that they attended. They had no rights to their name, image, and likeness, and could not transfer from school to school without facing a year-long sporting ban. But now, with increased pressure from federal and state legislators, the NCAA has altered both of these rules all

Athletes in all sports have mental barriers to overcome, but between individual and team competitions lie differences that offer unique challenges and outcomes. For most athletes, their journey in sports begins as a child, a critical time for mental development. Sports are often seen by parents as outlets for their children that can teach them a life lesson or two, but when it comes to individual and team sports, these lessons are very different. The typical philosophy goes t

When it comes to the mental health of students at any institution there is a multitude of factors, but teachers can make or break an individual's experience. Everyone that has gone to school has had mixed experiences with their teachers. Some teachers are so passionate that they make the classroom come alive while others would prefer to read straight from the textbook. While these behaviors may make you love or hate your teachers, the impact that they have on their students e

For BIPOC folks in the United States, being subject to racism and other systemic inequalities or expectations can have negative effects on mental health. Systemic inequalities have been present in the United States for hundreds of years, and while much progress has been made over time there is still much more work to be done. Often the material effects of racism are examined in the media, for example, hate crimes, protests, and directed racial slurs. The media often refrains

Professional athletes often have trouble managing the large sums of money they come upon at such a young age, but these four athletes have managed to figure it out. 1. Kevin Durant More and more athletes seem to be moving towards venture capital investments, and Kevin Durant has certainly led the charge amongst NBA players. Durant and his agent Rich Kleiman established Thirty-Five Ventures, a firm that has invested in roughly 40 separate ventures. These investments include br

When perfect eating habits, high performance, and demanding fitness regimens are expected, not all athletes are able to keep up. Terrence Engles was chosen in the MLB draft by the Montreal Expos in 2003, right out of high school. He was a kid who had experimented with drugs during his time as an adolescent, but was never a heavy user. While Engles played in the minor leagues he spent months at a time on the road, traveling from city to city. He met new players often and spent

It isn’t easy for anyone to reach out for help, but for men, culture and social norms can hold them back even more. June is Men’s health month, and while the mental health of all people is important, men in particular face numerous barriers and stigma that prevent them from receiving care. Men suffer from depression at roughly half the rate of women, yet nearly 80% of suicides are men. Men also seek out mental health care at lower rates than women and are more likely to downp

Investment in collegiate athletic nutrition programs is surging across the country, but is it worth it? What does it take to be a champion? Most coaches would say something along the lines of hard work or determination, but many are now realizing that champions must not only work hard, but eat well too. 53 NCAA athletics programs have registered dieticians or nutritional specialists among their staff, and some think that they are just as important as any other coach. “We woul

Over the past decade controversy surrounding college athletes and their rights to earn money has grown, pushing forward legislation, and creating new stress for student-athletes. The tide began to shift in 2009 when former student-athlete Ed O’Bannon sued the NCAA, on behalf of Division 1 athletes, over the name, image and likeness rights of athletes featured in an NCAA licensed video game. Since this lawsuit, the conversation concerning NCAA players’ rights to profit off of

As conversations concerning mental health become more common, and attitudes shift, the impact of athletes and their stories must not be ignored. 1. Kevin Love Racing heartbeat, excessive sweating, lightheadedness, and difficulty breathing, this is what NBA athlete Kevin Love felt on November 5, 2018, during the middle of a game against the Atlanta Hawks. He was having a panic attack, right there on the court, in front of all the cameras. “For 29 years, I thought mental health

As we enter pride month, it is a good time to reflect on the impact that LGBTQ+ athletes have had on modern sport, as well as the troubles they have faced in trying to level the playing field. For most of sporting history, there has been a massive stigma surrounding the participation of LGBTQ+ athletes. Even today, 70% of LGBTQ+ athletes do not come out to their teammates and coaches concerning their sexual identities, according to Human Rights Campaign. This likely stems fro

Businesses and schools alike move forward with plans to address the waning mental health of employees and students. In December 2020, the CEOs of America’s 14 leading mental health organizations joined forces to lobby the federal government, as well as all 50 state governments, to fight for more investment in mental health initiatives. With growing societal concerns surrounding mental health, and increasing public support for wellness initiatives, many companies, schools, and

The growth in mental health concerns on college campuses presents higher education with a unique problem to deal with. Numerous reports and studies have detailed a consistent rise in mental health conditions amongst college, and graduate students at universities across America. The pandemic and the uncertainty of education format made it difficult for universities to focus on the mental health of their students. Additionally, due to economic recession, schools were unable to

Access to mental health services can help curb anxiety, depression, and stress for overworked athletes On a surface level, the culture, media, and excitement surrounding college sports are palpable at campuses all across the nation. Students love their athletes, mascots, and sporting events, which provide fun activities for regular students, and sometimes create large revenue margins for the academic institutions they attend. At some schools, student-athletes are even treated

The America East Conference and The Zone have entered into a new partnership in which The Zone will serve as the official wellness provider of the conference. The partnership was arranged by Van Wagner which manages the America East Conference’s sponsorship and marketing partners program. The Zone is a modern SaaS platform that uses data to increase connectivity and wellness for NCAA athletic programs. “We welcome The Zone as our newest partner and are excited for our sc

The Zone Podcast hosted by Ivan Tchatchouwo continues to bring on insightful guests that bring an interesting perspective to the college sports landscape. The past two guests are no different. These past episodes Ivan talked to Kevin Anderson, the former Athletic Director of multiple colleges including Army, Maryland, and Cal Berkley. Anderson talked with Ivan about how we can build safer environments for athletes, how social issues impact athletics, and what the future of co

When it comes to athletic performance, wellness has increasingly become part of the conversation. Ever since the outbreak of Covid-19, more athletic programs are dedicating themselves to taking care of the well being of their athletes. Athletic directors, student-athletes, & conference commissioners play a vital role in the push towards a mentally healthy athletic program. We at The Zone have compiled a list of the best wellness advocates in the college athletic field and we

Mental health is an issue in college athletics with limited resolutions. Universities do not have enough wellness staff members for their student-athletes. Along with this, the majority of athletes aren’t seeking help when they are faced with mental health issues. Daniel Eisenberg, an associate professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, found that only a tenth of college athletes experiencing mental health conditions actually report it, which is 20% less