May is Mental Health Awareness month, a time to take action and break down the stigma surrounding mental health issues. West Springfield High School contributes to this intiative through its participation in Morgan’s Message, a non-profit organization focused on the mental wellbeing of student athletes. West Side’s involvement in this organization began in the fall of 2024 when students Ainsley Kearney and Kelsie Duncan worked alongside Athletic Director, Mr. Glenn Doulette, and Athletic Administrative Assistant, Ms. Janis Sawyer, to bring Morgan’s Message to the high school.
Morgan’s Message was founded in 2020 by Dona Rodgers, in honor of her daughter Morgan. Morgan was a Division I lacrosse player at Duke University and experienced a debilitating knee injury in 2017. As a result of her injury, she struggled with the anxiety of feeling like she was not living up to everyone’s expectations, and she felt isolated from her team. Morgan silently struggled until she tragically took her own life in 2019. Morgan’s Message was founded in her honor and aims to destigmatize the mental health issues related to athletics.
Research suggests that up fifty percent of athletes struggle with their mental health. Additionally, due to the amount of stressors that athletes likely experience, this group tends to be more vulnerable to mental health issues. Yet, mental health is oftentimes not prioritized for atheltes. According to West Springfield High School senior Ainsley Kearney, “Most athletes experience dealing with the stigma surrounding athletes and mental health, specifically performance-based anxiety, the fear of judgement, and the pressure to be tough and strong all of the time.” Ainsley was inspired to bring Morgan’s Message to the high school because of the importance of its message. The hope of Morgan’s Message is to create an environment where physical and mental health recieve equal treatment for all athletes. When asked about the changes Morgan’s Message has already made in our school, Ainsley said, “Morgan’s Message has significantly impacted the conversation of mental health, specifically allowing for teammates to confide in each other or adults if they are struggling without feeling ashamed.”
Destigmatizing mental health fosters an enviroment that allows athletes the opportunity to openly speak about their struggles and to seek beneficial support. One athlete from West Side, who wishes to remain anonymous, said, “I have had struggles with my mental health as an athlete, particularly with anxiety regarding my performance and the expectations set by not just my coach but myself as well. I think most athletes experience the fear of failure, so understanding that failing and making mistakes at some point within the sports season is essential in order to be both a successful athlete and a successful human.”
Next school year, Kelsie Duncan, Mr.Doulette and Ms. Sawyer hope to recruit more student ambassadors into the Morgan’s Message organization. Morgan’s Message helps to remind us that mental health should always be a main priority and that everyone should be made to feel as though their voices matter.
