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Mental Health

The mental health challenges faced by coaches are often overlooked, despite their critical role in supporting athletes. Jordan Harbinger and Gabriel Mizrahi discuss the emotional toll on a collegiate basketball coach who juggles personal crises and the mental health struggles of players without adequate support 1. Coaches are expected to be pillars of strength, yet they lack the resources to manage their own mental health. Jordan shares a personal anecdote contrasting supportive and unsupportive coaches, highlighting the profound impact a coach can have on their players' lives 2.

The bond you have with your players, the way you show up for them in a crisis, the way you're dealing with some really intense stuff in your own life and still being there for them, that is nothing short of incredible.

--- Jordan Harbinger

The conversation underscores the need for mental health resources tailored to coaches, who are often left to navigate these challenges alone.

   

Support Systems

Developing support systems for coaches is crucial to address the gaps in mental health resources. Jordan and Gabriel emphasize the importance of nurturing ideas that fill these gaps, suggesting that personal experiences often reveal systemic deficiencies 3. They encourage starting small, such as organizing informal meetings with fellow coaches to discuss shared challenges and potential solutions 4.

This might in fact be a nonprofit that works with athletics departments to do trainings and offer counseling. But it could also be a website with a really great resource hub or a monthly zoom call for coaches around the world.

--- Gabriel Mizrahi

The hosts advocate for a flexible approach, allowing the initiative to evolve based on feedback and emerging needs, ultimately creating a supportive community for coaches 5.