Mid-American Conference

As a part of MAC Mental Health Awareness Week, here is what many of our MAC Leaders had to share.
 

Abbey Pawlak – Volleyball – Akron
“When someone is mentally healthy, I think that they are capable of staying focused and overcoming what is brought upon them. I personally think that it’s important to always stay focused on your vision. At times, life can get overwhelming and you can sometimes get lost, but I try to always remember what I am working for, and where I want to be.  We are always being tested, and I think that it’s how we react and deal with these challenges, that make us stronger.”
 
Josh Williams – Men’s Basketball – Akron
“To me being mentally healthy means that one is capable of with standing thoughts in their mind good or bad without letting it get the best of them. It's very important because sometimes our mind can be our own worst enemy. No matter what when I feel anxious or am having problems I pray! Prayer always brings me to a place of peace.”
 
Tanner Barton – Men ’s Swimming & Diving – Ball State
“Physical health and mental health go hand in hand.  Think of this relationship as a bicycle… If you have a newly inflated tire on the front (physical health) but a flat tire on the back (mental health), you won’t be able to ride the bike.”
 
Kohl Taberner – Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field – Bowling Green
"Mental health awareness is important for all people because by recognizing mental health issues, we take the first step to fighting the damaging effects of them"
 
Treyvon Mask – Men’s Track & Field – Buffalo
“To me Mental health awareness means everyone being able to express themselves with any problem they may have going on and not having to worry about anyone judging the situation. I truly feel are quote ‘it's ok to not be ok’ sums it up the best.”
 
Evie Lorimer – Softball – Central Michigan
“This year we are focusing anxiety because it’s a real issue amongst student athletes. It’s easy to be overwhelmed with the number of things we have to do in one day: school, practice, weights, conditioning, homework… and that doesn’t included eating, sleeping, or a social life. Anxiety happens to us all. It’s important that we address it.”

Anna Aldrich – Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field – Eastern Michigan
"I believe anxiety is innate in all athletes whether we can admit it or not. Trying to maintain grades and plan for our future and competing at the highest level of athletics within college, all while being held to the highest standard by coaches and also the public; it all comes together at some point creating anxiety within all of us. Breaking down the stigma associated with anxiety and mental health is so imperative because athletes are struggling, and need to know they are not alone."
 
Chris Cutter – Men’s Swimming & Diving – Eastern Michigan
"The glory of the MAC Mental Health Awareness week is that it is student athlete ran. We get to raise awareness about mental health problems and use our athletes as a direct line to spread awareness. The influence that the collegiate athletes have on their campus is unmatched. This years main focus is anxiety, which as athletes we have all come across in our careers at some point. Because of this we have first hand experience and knowledge from our athletes on how to understand and cope with this kind of mental health dilemma." 
 
Katie Kingsbury – Women’s Soccer – Kent State
 “I know it's a common quote but my favorite quote about mental health awareness is ‘Mental illness does not mean mental weakness’. This quote allows me to embrace the times I'm not feeling my best mentally and work on how to bring myself back to normal.”
 
Paul Moses – Football – Miami
"Embrace the flaws you do not have control over"
 
Katie Tomasic – Volleyball – Miami
“As an athlete, we face so many stressors every day and that is why it is so important that we talk about ways to cope in a healthy manner.”
 
Richard Hall – Men’s Soccer – Northern Illinois
“In my opinion, Mental health is defined by how balanced you live your life. Positive mental health is the acknowledgment of negative moments throughout your day as completely satisfactory, and the belief that a positive moment will follow. Recognizing this definition is important to me because i can welcome frustration and embarrassment (to mention just two negative emotions) with open arms, because without them I will be unbalanced. 
 
We as the MAC conference recognize the difficulties society faces with mental health and want to educate ourselves further on what unbalances mental health, how we can prevent this unbalance, how we can help those in need and many other questions. 
 
An increasing pattern of student-athletes who feel unbalanced attribute this to anxiety. This year we will focus on this issue, not only to help our fellow student-athletes but also to educate ourselves on anxiety throughout society. 
 
Remember, It’s Ok not to be Ok!”
 
Taylor Perkins – Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field – Northern Illinois
“The initiative the MAC is taking with Mental Health Awareness makes me proud as a student-athlete in this conference. Specifically, the focus this year on "anxiety" is something pretty impactful for, not just student-athletes, but the entire student population. Whether it is anxiety about a game coming up or nerves for an upcoming exam, anxiety can effect the day-to-day lives of many people. The goal of this initiative is to help break the stigma behind mental health and therefore encourage student-athletes to know that #ItsOKtoNOTbeOK.”
 
Tatyana Nelson - Field Hockey - Ohio
"The MAC Mental Health Initiative is helping to shed light on an issue that is impacting student athletes across the nation. Until mental health issues are held to the same standard of treatment as any physical injury, we must continue to spread the word and work  towards breaking the stereotypes and stigmas associated with athletes and mental health. There is no master plan for tackling mental health treatment. However, something we all can be doing, is having the conversation that "it's ok to not be ok."

Adam Notestine - Football - Ohio
"Anxiety affects anyone and everyone, but together we can spread awareness."

Jamauri Bogan – Football – Western Michigan
To many times in our lives we overlook people with deficiencies that aren't usual. Individuals should have courage to talk about a Mental Heath Issue like Anxiety , for by opening their mouth they have the power to change many more lives.
 
Sydney LeMay – Volleyball – Western Michigan
“Maintaining your mental health should be your top priority and deserves much more attention than what we often give it. We as athletes are trained not to show weakness. Let's change that stigma and start training ourselves to recognize, accept, and admit when we are not okay and need help.”