YORK COUNTY, Pa. — "Knowledge is power; when we know better, we do better."
Kara Vojcsik is a licensed clinical therapist and a former school social worker. She understands those words define the goal of a recent mental health symposium conducted for local high school athletes and their families.
"If we can have something and just share a little bit of insight about ‘hey, maybe this is why your kid is struggling, this would be helpful to say, don’t say this,’" Vojcsik explained. "I believe that everyone is doing the best they can with what they know so it’s just a space to talk about and learn about mental health in sports."
The two-hour symposium took place at Susquehannock High School and was open to all York-Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) athletes and their families. Vojcsik was one of the featured speakers.
The first hour was spent communicating with coaches to help create a healthy climate on and off the field. Depression, anxiety, youth suicide prevention--it was all covered during the 60 minutes.
"There’s nary a teenager in this country who doesn’t need a trusted adult who aren’t Mom or Dad to be able to talk to," said Red Lion High School head baseball coach Kevin Lawrence. "And it’s not because that trusted adult knows more or cares more than Mom or Dad. It’s simply because they’re not Mom or Dad. Coaches often fill that role, and when they build those meaningful relationships, they’re very often able to get to the root of things that kids don’t want to tell parents, and because of that, they’re often able to become the kid’s greatest advocates.”
It's not always easy for young athletes in high school and college to admit they're having problems. The fear of a coach or teammate thinking they are soft or mentally weak is real.
In the second hour of the symposium, the student-athletes went into a classroom setting while the parents headed to the auditorium. In the final 10 minutes, they were brought together as a student panel offered valuable perspective.
“I think the most important thing that I wanted parents to learn is that every person is different," said York Suburban senior Brynn Neidigh. "It’s just very eye-opening for older generations to see that they are opening up, and I think sometimes it takes them for a shock a little bit, but that’s okay because everyone needs support at one time or another. Whether it’s the smallest thing or it’s the biggest thing in the world, everyone needs support, so I think it’s very important.”
The story attached includes information about awareness and support for young athletes from the symposium and from an organization called The Hidden Opponent and the local chapter of the national nonprofit advocacy group at Shippensburg University. The progress is measurable, but the conversations about mental health need to continue.
“Just this idea that you matter--it’s really that simple, you matter, you are enough and this world needs you and all of the parts of you," Vojcsik said. "Like this world needs you, life is hard but you can do hard things, that’s always for me, the final message.”