University of Wisconsin runner's passing

Tragic news. Prayers to her family and friends. Similar situation with the Stanford women's goalkeeper a couple of months ago.

The last two years with the pandemic have clearly been stressful, on top of the other stress that students put on themselves. There needs to be more awareness training on mental health, it seems, to hopefully identify the signs and help these kids at risk. Such a tragedy.

Condolences.

I created the April is depressing thread. This is especially true in the Midwest. I had a college roommate commit suicide April 8th some time ago.

I also attended the same university for undergrad.

I wish there was something more I couldve done to reach out to my friend then. I tried but he wasnt letting anyone in at the time and even those select few who he could let in (mainly family) he wasnt opening up and responding. I will never forget the sounds of his wailing father at the funeral with upwards of 2000 in attendance. He was the first among our age group to die and he was a decorated student athlete who touched many lives during his life. He had so much going for him. He thought no one cared about him which could not have been further from the truth.

I wish I couldve known and reached out to her to prevent this from happening and help her through whatever she was going through. I think about her family and then her friends and school peers who will be shaken by this loss indefinitely. Sad day for Wisconsin fans.

Of course the pandemic may have nothing to do with it. Suicide has been with us forever. But you are correct that mental health is neglected to the point that we as a society must look in the mirror and realize that although we cannot prevent every case like this we surely can do much better in helping those who are struggling. This is a tragic loss.

suicide is awful and heartbreaking

prayers to the family and her

I am not sure why this isn't getting more publicity on here.

The pressure of schooling can be overbearing when you go to a top-level school like Wisconsin. It can be hard enough to balance athletics and academics at the same time. Some courses do not allow you to skip a beat. She was pushed to her wits end obviously.

We put too much pressure on ourselves and others. Life is precious, relationships are precious. Show gratitude each day.

I get what you are saying but personally I don’t know what to say about these things anymore other than the obvious. Very sad and very unfortunate.

Yes, but also our culture just sucks. We need to stop being such superficial a$$holes to one another.

Very few people, even well meaning friends and family, are equipped to help someone struggling with mental health issues. Mental illness makes people uncomfortable and uncomfortable feelings are to be avoided at all costs for most people. Even most counselors and therapists are not quite skilled enough to make a difference. The psychological and physical underpinnings of mental illness are very complex and it's a minority of therapists and psychiatrists that are competent enough to treat mental illness.

I am a clinical social worker with fifteen years of experience. I agree that most masters-level clinicians do not have enough training to help people who are chronically mentally ill. If anyone reading this wants to make a difference, get trained in psychological first aid and read Why People Die By Suicide by Thomas Joiner. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also a good resource. Coaches and teammates can save lives if they know the right questions to ask an athlete who appears to be struggling.

Upwardly mobile parents who raise kids to be even more upwardly mobile put a criminal level of pressure on the kids. This shxt has to stop. This winner-take-all neoliberal culture, of which competitive running is a microcosm, will be looked back on as completely barbaric in a 100 years.