On Wednesday, Nov. 7, a Denison University baseball player was found dead in what appeared to be a suicide. Per The Columbus Dispatch, “Sean Bonner, a member of the class of 2020, had been last seen alive by his roommates at midday, and was reported missing at 3:32 p.m., according to University and Granville police.” No information has been released regarding the details of Bonner’s death.
This sudden death hits home for Wooster, specifically student-athletes who find themselves struggling to juggle a busy practice and game schedule on top of the heavy academic workload. Mental illness does not discriminate. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, around “one in five adults in the U.S. 43.8 million, or 18.5 percent experiences mental illness in a given year.” At Wooster that equates to approximately 400 students who may be struggling with their mental health. This issue touches each and every one of us, whether it’s a personal battle or something that you have seen others struggle with.
The majority of College of Wooster students have high expectations for themselves. Whether getting A’s in the classroom, leading clubs they started, having three jobs on campus, starring in plays, playing varsity sports or maybe doing all of it at once, we never seem to give ourselves a break. On top of that, many of us are high-functioning, meaning that we go on throughout the day as though we feel completely normal while in reality we are fighting our own mind. No one person “embodies” mental health; even a captain can battle with this disease.
The fact that there’s a stigma surrounding mental illness is not news to anyone. However, sports teams in particular seem to have an aversion to acknowledging the battle that one in five Americans face. We rarely, if ever, talk about mental health with our teams. We certainly do not discuss the issue in a formal manner with coaches or other staff within the athletic department. We have trainers who help us when we are physically injured, but ignore conversations regarding anxiety, depression or suicide.
This year, our field hockey team decided for our awareness game we would address the issue of mental illness and the importance in taking time for yourself. Before our game, we signed a poster with the question “How do you approach mental health?” Some players wrote simple everyday activities like exercising or hanging out with friends. Others suggested more serious action such as therapy. Whatever the answer, each player had to take the time to think about mental illness and its effects on those who struggle with it as well as those who do not. This should be something every team has to think about.
All students can benefit from using the resources available on campus to take care of ourselves mentally. The Wellness Center does have counseling services available to students. Even if you are hesitant, it does not hurt to reach out to any of our counselors and ask to set up an appointment. There is also a program called “Let’s Talk” which “provides no-cost, informal, confidential consultations at locations around campus throughout the academic year,” according to Ray Tucker, director of the Longbrake Wellness Center. “No appointment is necessary … Speaking with a counselor at these times can help provide insight, support and information about other resources.” While this program does not replace therapy, it may open the door for students to get connected with the resources available on campus.
If you are struggling, please know that you are not alone and that you are truly cared for here on campus. The National Suicide Prevention Line is 1-800-273-8255.
Grace O’Leary, a Contributing Writer for the Voice, can be reached for comment at GOLeary20@wooster.edu.