Acts of Courage

An invaluable resource to erase the stigma of women’s mental health struggles from sports

Only in recent years have the mental health struggles of athletes begun to be realized, especially for women. With star athletes like Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles speaking up about their mental wellbeing, a light is finally being shone on this critical issue. Yet, despite the increasing number of pro athletes speaking out, negative stereotypes and a lack of understanding continues at all levels of sport today.

In Acts of Courage: Understanding Female Athletes’ Struggles with Mental Health, Joan Steidinger addresses the very real and incapacitating mental health challenges experienced by female athletes. She corrects misconceptions about mental health struggles, illustrates signs and symptoms gatekeepers--parents, coaches, teachers, therapists, and teammates--should be vigilant about, and suggests action steps that these gatekeepers should take to support their athletes’ mental health. Throughout, Steidinger also shares firsthand accounts collected from interviews she has conducted with mental health practitioners, female athletes, and coaches.

Covering a wide range of topics--including the susceptibility of teenage and elite female athletes to depression, the impact of burnout and injuries on mental health, and more--Acts of Courage provides the professional insight, actionable advice, and invaluable resources that gatekeepers need to support and advocate for their female athletes. By erasing the stigma of mental health from athletics, we can finally create an environment in which all female athletes, regardless of their individual challenges, can thrive.