Breaking the Stigma: Alfred State S-A's Stories
The inaugural NCAA Mental Health Campaign is a week of awareness, education and engagement to show the importance of breaking the stigma surrounding mental health. Below four of our current Alfred State student-athletes and baseball coach Mike Armstrong share parts of their mental health stories.
Nate Miller - Swimming & Diving
I think a lot of people use athletics to alleviate the pain of certain mental illnesses, such as stress or depression. I think swimming has been able to help me out of some of the darkest times of my life, because while everything changed around me and as I struggled to start a new life in college, one thing remained certain; I would still be able to do the sport that I loved. Swimming taught me to always have something that everyone who goes through a personal struggle needs: hope. Even when things aren't getting better, and maybe they won't, you need to have hope.
Megan Gridley - Volleyball
I have struggled with depression since April 2019, and it has been a hard, long journey. I had something happen in my life, and it may seem small to others who have been through more; however, it was the biggest thing to happen in my life. I refused to seek help, and eventually I got to my breaking point. Reaching out was the best thing I could have done. Since then, it has not been a straight road, there has been bad days and good ones. Having a support system is a great thing, whether it be parents, friends, siblings, or significant others. The key is to keep your mind and body busy, whether that is working on homework or simply taking a walk. Being in quarantine and social distancing, it is not easy. Getting up every day, having a plan, implementing that plan, and taking it day by day is a goal I strive for to make it easier to manage.
Cale Bartosch - Wrestling
Individuals that may be struggling with mental health can often go undetected. Mental health disorders, such as depression, can be especially difficult for men to deal with because it is harder for others to recognize. Personally, looking back on when I was dealing with depression, I had no idea at the time that I was going through it. The fact that so many cases of male depression go undiagnosed is mainly because as males, we tend to be more reserved with showing specific emotions like sadness, guilt, and grief. These are known to be more feminine feelings and because of this, males who feel this way will choose to hide these emotions from outsiders and further isolate themselves.
What helped me get out of my depressive state was finding a new purpose in my life; I did not have a strong passion or drive. It wasn't until getting to college where I really felt motivated to do my best. Combining schoolwork that engaged my learning and being a part of the Alfred State wrestling team motivated me into becoming the best version of myself. I have received significantly better grades in college because less of my classes feel like useless work, and I feel I am being taught meaningful skills. Also, the wrestling team at Alfred State is not like any other team I have been a part of before. We are so much closer and have become a tight knit group because all of us are equally passionate about the sport.
Derek Walter - Cross Country/Track & Field
I have been blessed not to have experienced any mental health problems myself, but when I was in middle school, my older brother developed a severe case of depression. It all started with a concussion he sustained playing football. My brother had always been quiet and kept to himself most of the time, so no one in my family had any idea he was depressed until one of his teammates contacted us and said he mentioned wanting to hurt himself. It was a really scary time for my family, because we went to bed each night wondering if he would still be alive the next morning. We were very fortunate that my brother's teammate came forward because otherwise we likely wouldn't have known anything was wrong until it was too late. Not every family is as lucky. A close friend of mine committed suicide this past December. He too suffered from depression after getting a concussion, but his struggle was very short because no one knew the pain he was in. To anyone suffering from mental illnesses such as depression, please talk to someone you trust. Don't stay silent thinking you will be a burden to them because I can guarantee you they would much rather deal with the stress of knowing what you're going through than being left wondering what went wrong and why they didn't see you were hurting inside.
Mike Armstrong - Head Baseball Coach
Not unlike many of my athletes and their fellow students, I went through a period of mental stress and anxiety when I neared the end of my college academic and baseball career. I was unsure of what path to follow in the world, what job I should try to pursue, where to live, who to be and about everything else you can imagine. This brought me many sleepless nights and many stressful periods where I wasn't sure where to turn or what to do. I was very fortunate that my mom was understanding of where I was, but I also knew she would love me no matter what, so although it was wonderful to have her support, it did not bring me peace. My dad on the other hand had a very clear idea of what I should do, and I knew I didn't want to pursue that path. I was torn. What was I going to do? I turned first to my closest friends, and was surprised and delighted to learn they agreed I should try to find my passion and follow it! Specifically my closest friend spent many nights discussing what we love the most and how we could both try and pursue our passions. After speaking with my family and close friends I then sought out my baseball coach. He had guided me through many situations in the past, and I knew I could trust him. Also, he was much older than me, so I knew he had had some life experiences I could learn from. I am so thankful to this day that I chose to reach out to him and share my frustration and uncertainty. He listened and guided. I was so grateful to have someone I could trust and share my insecurities with. Due to our conversations, and no prodding by him, it became very clear to me that my favorite thing to do was baseball, and I needed to find a way to work within baseball. His lessons to me have not been lost, and I try to help mentor my players in any capacity they need because my coach was there for me when I needed him the most!
NCAA Mental Health Week Home Page
