Lainey Stephenson is a fifth-year senior ladies’s volleyball student-athlete at Wright State who led the Horizon League with 10.66 assists per set this yr. She graduates with the second-most assists in Wright State program historical past and the ninth most in Horizon League historical past. Her 1,549 profession digs are the third most in program historical past.

She earned her undergraduate diploma in media research and grasp’s diploma in bodily schooling with a spotlight in sports activities administration. Stephenson will quickly be beginning the subsequent section of her profession as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for a Division I ladies’s volleyball program. During the top of her remaining season of competitors as a Raider, Stephenson ruptured her Achilles tendon.

As a part of the NCAA’s amplification of student-athlete voices throughout Mental Health Awareness Month, Stephenson shares a firsthand perspective on her harm and the worth of a sports activities psychologist for student-athletes.

I used to be gaslighting myself into considering that I used to be high quality, and I wasn’t.

There’s a ton of student-athletes like me who do not wish to hunt down assist. Not as a result of it is embarrassing, however generally you do not notice what’s occurring in your thoughts till you are speaking with knowledgeable.

I’m a perfectionist, and I beat myself into the bottom if I do not suppose I’m acting at my highest stage. During COVID-19, I used to be having a little bit little bit of a troublesome time, and my coaches made me see our sports activities psychologist. Like actually made me.

Her identify is Allison Newlin, and she or he helped me with efficiency nervousness, visualization and respiration. When I used to be enjoying, I all the time used suggestions and abilities I discovered from her.

Nothing might have ready me for Oct. 29, 2022, a day perpetually imprinted in my thoughts. It was the birthday of one in all my finest man associates, Simar, and we have been enjoying in Milwaukee, his hometown.

I invited him to the sport, and he playfully stated, “Dude, it’s my birthday. I’m not coming to your game.” But Simar’s birthday is not what stands proud about that day.

It was a routine serve. I ran throughout the online, making ready to arrange a teammate, one thing that I’ve achieved one million occasions. I went to push off my left foot and fell.

I felt it and heard it instantly. I knew.

I lay there on the chilly health club flooring, and I wasn’t crying. Everyone surrounding me was confused, however I matter of factly informed them, “My Achilles ruptured.”

I wasn’t even in ache but. I used to be simply pissed that I used to be harm for that recreation.

As they carried me off to the coaching room, the tears got here. It hit me that I used to be most likely by no means going to play once more. Our coach laid me down on the desk face down, bent my leg up and squeezed my calf to verify the harm. If your toes transfer, your Achilles is ok.

My toes did not transfer in any respect.

I used to be making an attempt to maneuver them to cheat the system and be like, “I’m fine,” however I did not have management of my foot.

I collected myself and needed to see the top of the sport. I finished by the lavatory, and our workforce mothers have been upset. On crutches, I hobbled out to the bench. The women have been simply as upset however placing on a powerful entrance for me. We gained 3-0, and postgame even the dads have been upset for me.

It felt like my very own funeral.

All the ache began to kick in on the seven-hour bus journey again to Dayton. It was like somebody had taken a knife to my calf and was flattening.

I obtained possibly two hours of sleep once I obtained house. I simply saved listening to the popping in my head.

I tore it on a Saturday, met with a surgeon Monday and had surgical procedure Tuesday. We had an enormous recreation towards Northern Kentucky that night time, battling for the appropriate to host the convention match. I did not suppose I might watch.

It was probably the most annoying two and a half hours of my life, and I wasn’t even enjoying. I had no management over it — so I used to be depressing. We gained in 5 units, but it surely was greater than the sport outcomes that I keep in mind.

I’m from the realm round Northern Kentucky, and I’m associates with a number of these women. Their mother and father made me indicators, “Good luck on your recovery!” and “We love you!” That was so good.

Those forms of moments are particular.

After the season, I earned Horizon League Setter of the Year for the second time in my profession. Thank God! I feel mentally if I did not get it, I might have been distraught. That was actually the one factor left I needed to maintain onto.

The Oakland workforce despatched me a card. Every coach I noticed on the convention match got here up and stated very nice issues, interactions I do not suppose would have occurred with out the harm.

In the second, I used to be actually well mannered to individuals about it. I’d placed on my courageous face, however I would depart and cry about it. I do not suppose I’ll by no means not be upset about it.

Maybe the harm did occur for a purpose? I would not have gotten any of that acknowledgment. Looking again now, it is good to see that different individuals thought I made an influence. It’s comforting.

During Senior Night, not even every week after the harm, Allison got here as much as me and gave me a rock. She informed me, “Remember how strong you are. I’m always here for you.” She is aware of I’m not one to hunt her out, which is how a number of athletes are.

Allison had open hours in our athletic coaching room, and I might go in and speak to her there. She extra needed me to give attention to my psychological well being and look exterior of volleyball. My life had been consumed by the game. She helped me see the larger image and helped me transfer on faster than I might have if I did not see her.

She’s nice. I like her, and I’m so grateful for her.

It’s vital for student-athletes to have somebody to speak to aside from their teammates. Sometimes you want skilled opinions and recommendation to get by a time. Nobody on my workforce might relate to my Achilles harm. Allison could not relate, however she gave me the instruments and steerage to get me by it.

It’s a necessity for student-athletes to have entry to a sports activities psychologist. It needs to be a requirement, and I do know the Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee has been vocal. We actually fought within the Horizon League for there to be not less than one sports activities psychologist on every campus. I used to be shocked in 2020 when some faculties did not have one. We’ve misplaced too many student-athletes to psychological well being. It’s a disaster at this level.

No one needs to be afraid to ask for assist. If somebody is struggling, suggest they speak to any person.

I did not wish to, however as soon as I did, I used to be 30 occasions higher. Playing higher, feeling higher and sleeping higher. It’s higher in your general well being in case you have entry to psychological well being professionals.

I might jog for the primary time in late April, and I’m purported to be cleared to run June 12. My surgeon informed me he thought I used to be fortunate that I used to be a fifth-year student-athlete as a result of most athletes solely turn into about 85% of what they have been pre-injury.

It might have been worse. I might have been a freshman or sophomore. I all the time attempt to discover the “it happened for a reason” moments.

I’ve to maintain issues in perspective.

As the Association’s nationwide middle of excellence, the NCAA Sport Science Institute works intently with the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports and is dedicated to serving and educating student-athletes and the membership. For extra data on psychological well being, go to the Sports Science Institute’s mental health page and mental health best practices page.

Best observe No. 1 is scientific licensure of practitioners offering psychological well being care. Schools are inspired to make sure that the psychological well being care of a school athlete is supplied by a licensed particular person who’s certified to supply psychological well being providers.

Access resources designed to assist athletics division workers, convention workplaces and campus stakeholders implement the psychological well being finest practices.