August 8, 2025
A recent survey of 23,000 NCAA athletes revealed something significant: 50% don't feel comfortable accessing mental health care on their own campus.
As a psychiatrist working with athletic organizations and the CEO of Onrise, this statistic represents both a challenge and an opportunity for programs willing to listen to what their athletes are saying.
You've Already Made the Investment
Many athletic departments have recognized the need for athlete-specific mental health support. You have embedded counselors in athletic departments, and created athlete-focused programming.
But here's what the data shows: Even with dedicated in-house counselors, that 50% statistic still holds. it's about giving athletes options that match their individual comfort levels.
Athletic departments have consistently adapted when athletes identified needs:
- Strength and conditioning became specialized, and we've seen dramatic reductions in preventable injuries and significant improvements in athletic performance across all sports
- Sports nutrition became essential leading to better recovery times, enhanced endurance, and optimized body composition for peak performance
- Academic support became comprehensive resulting in higher graduation rates, improved GPAs, and better preparation for post-athletic careers
- Mental health support is following the same path, with early adopters already seeing measurable improvements in athlete wellbeing and performance
What Athletes Are Actually Saying
The feedback is specific:
"It's hard to schedule since I can't necessarily choose the day when I need mental health help." - DIII Sophomore Basketball Player
"They are not specialized for athletics so they may not understand or respect the perspective of a student athlete." - DI Graduate Football Player
"I'm concerned any private information might be shared with coaches, teammates, or administration without my consent." - DI Sophomore Golfer
These voices point to gaps that exist even with good internal resources.
The Evolution Pattern
Athletic departments have consistently adapted when athletes identified needs:
- Strength and conditioning became specialized
- Sports nutrition became essential
- Academic support became comprehensive
- Mental health support is following the same path
The difference now is that athletes are asking for options beyond what any single program can provide in-house.
Completing the Care Model
Your existing mental health investments don't need replacing, they need complementing. External partnerships can handle:
- 24/7/365 crisis coverage
- Athletes who prefer complete campus separation
- Overflow when internal resources are at capacity
- Specialized modalities not available in-house
- Peer support from retired athletes
Real Implementation Examples
Grand Valley State Athletic Director Keri Becker: "At GVSU, we seek to unleash the full potential of all our student-athletes. This potential is realized only when they have the tools and support to navigate their toughest days."
Marian University Head Women's Soccer Coach Justin Sullivan: "External specialized support became an immersive tool for our student-athletes to get the psychological support needed to perform at a consistently high level."
These programs use both internal and external resources strategically.
The Business Reality
Building comprehensive 24/7 mental health coverage internally costs:
- Therapist salary: $85,000
- Psychiatrist salary: $250,000
- Sports performance specialist: $70,000
- Nutritionist: $105,000
- Total: $535,000+ annually
Plus licensing, crisis coverage, and diverse staff requirements.
Onrise can provide this infrastructure at less than 1/2 the cost of the a single hire while your internal staff focuses on their core strengths.
Professional Sports Model
Professional leagues use hybrid approaches. Major League Rugby COO Graeme Bradbury: "Mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness in the sport of rugby, and the mental health of our players, coaches and officials is paramount to our league's success."
They don't choose between internal and external—they use both.
The Coverage Gap
Current approach: Internal resources serve ~50% of athletes comfortably Comprehensive approach: Internal + external partnerships serve 100% of athletes
The math is straightforward.
Moving Forward
The 50% statistic isn't going away by itself. Athletic departments can:
- Continue relying solely on internal/campus resources and accept that half their athletes won't use them
- Build expensive comprehensive internal systems from scratch
- Create partnerships that complement existing investments and serve all athletes
The question is which approach serves your athletes best while making business sense for your department.
Kim Quigley, MD, is CEO of Onrise, providing mental health care to athletes across professional and collegiate sports.