A survey of college athletes found that nearly 40 percent have experienced suicidal thoughts at some point in their lives. The figure underscores the scale of mental-health strain within collegiate sports, where young competitors often face intense academic and athletic pressures.
The same survey found that 86 percent of respondents believe the NCAA should require mental health and suicide prevention training for all athletes. That broad support suggests athletes see a gap in current resources and want institutional action rather than optional programs.
The survey was carried out by the University of Mississippi and Rutgers University. Its findings add to ongoing concerns about athlete well-being and raise questions about whether the NCAA's existing mental-health efforts go far enough.