How to support student athletes from injury to recovery

Collegiate athletics are central to the campus life of many colleges and universities, bringing benefits to thousands of students (read more about the benefits of exercise here). Unfortunately, injury is an unavoidable element of participation. Among the over 550,000 students competing in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports, there are around 210,000 injuries every year, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate.¹ The most serious injuries, including traumatic concussions, spinal injuries, and ACL tears, can result in long-term disability or career-ending rehabilitation. More common injuries, like fractures, sprains, and strains, can still have negative impacts on a student’s well-being, despite being considered less severe.² All forms of injury, from muscular strain to concussion, increase the risk of declining mental health in students, impacting social life, sleeping habits, and academic performance.³

Prevalence of injuries

As many as 90% of collegiate athletes, spanning all sports, divisions, and levels, sustain at least one injury during their careers.⁴ Sports injury surveillance systems track injuries in almost all sports settings, from high school to professional, yet few record injuries in recreational spaces. Research shows that injury rates for common club sport teams on college campuses are actually higher than NCAA injuries. NIRSA estimates that over 2 million students participate in club sports, highlighting a significant portion of sports-related injuries that are flying under the radar.⁵ The club sports that do record injuries have found nearly double the rate of diagnosed concussions, with 10% compared to the NCAA’s 5.8%.⁵ The prevalence of underreporting limits an institution’s ability to understand the full scope of student injuries and develop appropriate prevention and support strategies.

Impacts of injury

Financial strain

If a student gets injured, a cascade of financial challenges could follow, including medical bills, physical therapy costs, transportation, and even specialized equipment. For many students, injury may mean the inability to work, cutting off a source of income, or even impacting their scholarships.

Social impacts

When students are injured, they may lose daily contact with their teammates and coaches, leading to disconnection from an anchor in their social life. Research shows that injured students with strong social support systems experience better psychological outcomes during recovery. Conversely, the lack of a supportive environment can lead to isolation after injury for student athletes.³

Academic impacts

Injury can also lead to academic impacts. Pain, limited mobility, and medical appointments can interfere with class attendance and studying. Head injuries can lead to cognitive symptoms like headaches, difficulty concentrating, and memory issues, directly impacting academic performance.⁶ Even non-head injuries can disrupt academics, causing sleep disturbances, stress, and emotional strain, making it hard to focus, retain information, or stay motivated.

Mental health impacts

When a student athlete sustains an injury, it often impacts their psychological and emotional well-being and sense of purpose. Injured collegiate athletes endure increased risk factors of depression, anxiety, fear of reinjury, trouble sleeping, poor concentration, emotional numbness and isolation, and avoidance of conversation revolving around injury.³

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, between 25-35% of college students are struggling with depression and anxiety, yet only 10% with a mental health condition seek help from a professional, considerably lower than the nearly 50% of the total population of students with depression or anxiety who seek help.^7,8 The notion that college athletes maintain better mental health than their peers due to increased levels of exercise and other personality traits is a dangerous misconception. Sports injuries are to be expected for around half of all student athletes, and when they occur can exacerbate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Why are college athletes not asking for help?

Although the prevalence of student athlete injury is high, and the negative impacts are substantial, social, academic, and financial pressures may discourage student athletes from reaching out for help. 

The pressure to avoid vulnerability and face difficulties quietly

Athletic culture often encourages toughness, resilience, and pushing through uncomfortable, painful, or harmful conditions. Research has found that coaches endorsing a “suck-it-up” mentality, promoting stigma towards mental illness, is associated with allowing students with physical injuries to return to play, and decreased willingness to encourage students to get mental health support. This mentality magnifies stigma towards needing help among athletes, whether it be for an injury or mental health.⁹  

Poor understanding of risks

While many assume that college athletes are in the best position to understand risk of their sports, research found that over 40% of student players underestimate the risk of concussion and other injuries. Without proper education, students may not recognize early warning signs or understand the importance of rest and rehabilitation. This lack of awareness increases the likelihood of reinjury and chronic health issues.¹⁰

Fear of financial strain and social impacts

Students who rely on athletic scholarships or worry about medical costs may stay silent to avoid jeopardizing their financial stability. Oftentimes, losing time on the field, losing funding, or paying for medical care outweighs a student’s concerns about their own health. Even more, students may not ask for care for fear of losing the social aspect of their sport.¹¹

Actions to take to help students on campus

Improving awareness of risks, injury assessment, and rehabilitation systems

Colleges can reduce injury rates by educating athletes about injury prevention, early symptom recognition, and the long-term consequences of untreated injuries. Preseason workshops, accessible informational materials, and regular communication from athletic trainers can empower students to make informed decisions about their health.¹⁰ Improving injury assessment, like baseline concussion testing for all athletes, allows medical staff to accurately assess injury, especially cognitive changes. This practice supports safer return‑to‑play decisions and helps protect students from the long‑term effects of head injuries.

Reducing stigma

Creating an environment where athletes feel safe discussing injuries and mental health concerns is essential. Coaches, trainers, and administrators can model supportive behavior by encouraging open dialogue and emphasizing that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Peer‑led initiatives and mental health ambassadors can further normalize these conversations.¹²

Improving support for injured athletes

Student athletes need access to holistic support, from mental health counseling, peer support groups, rehabilitation specialists, academic accommodations, and return-to-play protocol that prioritizes student well-being. This type of comprehensive support is the responsibility of the entire campus, including administrators, health promotion professionals, and athletic departments.¹²

Get involved and stay informed

Health and well-being, both mentally and physically, are crucial to building strong campuses, including fostering support for student athletes. Campus Health 360 strives to design healthier environments and align systems for student well-being. Staying informed, engaged, and aware of evolving student health trends and strategies by subscribing to the Campus Health 360 Newsletter for monthly updates.

References

1. Dart, T. (2021, Sept 6). College athletes are unpaid. What if injury ruins their chance of turning pro? The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/sep/06/college-athletes-are-unpaid-what-if-injury-ruins-their-chance-of-turning-pro
2. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease. (2024, Sept). Sports Injuries. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sports-injuries
3. Tabiando, J. (2024, Sept 9). The Impact of Sports Injuries on the Psychological Well-Being of Collegiate Athletes, JETIR Research Journal. 9(9), 30-35. https://www.ijnrd.org/papers/IJNRD2409406.pdf
4. Sizemore, A. (2024, Nov. 19). ‘A long journey’: The unseen side of injury and recovery for Duke’s student-athletes. The Duke Chronicle. https://dukechronicle.com/article/duke-athletics-injuries-foster-de-jesus-abby-pyne-surgery-rehab-identity-prevention-recovery-medical-team-20241120
5. Brezinski, T., Martin, J., & Ambegaonkar, J. P. (2021). Prospective Injury Epidemiology in Competitive Collegiate Club Sports, Quidditch, and Ultimate Frisbee. Athletic Training & Sports Health Care, 13(3), 111–116. https://doi.org/10.3928/19425864-20200107-01
6. Holmes A, Chen Z, Yahng L, Fletcher D and Kawata K (2020) Return to Learn: Academic Effects of Concussion in High School and College Student-Athletes. Front. Pediatr. 8:57. doi: 10.3389/fped.2020.00057.
7. American College of Sports Medicine. (2021, Aug 9). The American College of Sports Medicine Statement on Mental Health Challenges for Athletes. https://acsm.org/statement-on-mental-health-challenges-for-athletes/
8. Eisenberg, D., Ketchen Lipson, S., Heinze, J., Zhou, S. (2025, Sept 9). The Healthy Minds Study: 2024-2025 Data Report. https://healthpolicy.ucla.edu/our-work/publications/healthy-minds-study-2024-2025-data-report
9. Courtney, K., Dial, B., & Yanos, P. T. (2025). “Suck it up, go play”: Mental health stigma in college coaches and their use of mental illness microaggressions. Journal of American College Health, 73(8), 3245–3254. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2024.2400101
10. Jett, L. (2021, Jan 7). College Athletes Underestimate Risk of Injury | Health Care Policy. Harvard Medical School. https://hcp.hms.harvard.edu/news/college-athletes-underestimate-risk-injury
11. The Complete Athlete Foundation. (2024, Oct 24). Common Struggles of a Student Athlete. https://thecompleteathletefoundation.com/our-stories/f/common-struggles-of-a-student-athlete
12. Dunning, J. (2023, Nov 3). What Can Colleges and Universities Do to Support the Mental Health of Their Student-Athletes? Higher Education Today. https://www.higheredtoday.org/2023/11/03/what-can-colleges-and-universities-do-to-support-the-mental-health-of-their-student-athletes/

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