Articles & Guides
Evidence-based insights and practical guides to help athletes, coaches, and administrators understand and support mental wellness.
Addressing Systemic Issues in Athlete Mental Health With Peer Support + Integrated Care
A comprehensive white paper exploring how Onrise addresses systemic failures in the mental health system through peer support, integrated clinical care, and scalable infrastructure.
Why Peer Support and Outsourced Telehealth Work for Cash-Strapped Athletic Departments
A research-backed analysis of why independent, confidential, human-integrated care drives athlete engagement — and why outsourced telehealth is both clinically sound and financially rational for budget-constrained athletic departments.
More Out of Themselves, or Themselves Back: Why Athletes Need a Team, Not a Generalist
Mental performance helps athletes get more out of themselves. Mental health care helps athletes get themselves back. Here is why no single professional can be both — and why athletes deserve a team.
Cannabis and Mental Health: What a New Study Suggests
A 2025 study in Nature Mental Health found an important difference between cannabis use and cannabis use disorder — with implications for athletes, coaches, and parents.
The Mental Health Crisis in Sports: Why Athletes Are Struggling More Than Ever
Learn why the mental health crisis in sports is growing, what factors are affecting athletes, and how families, coaches, and organizations can better support athlete mental health.
What Is Athlete-Specific Mental Health Care?
Athlete-specific mental health care is support designed around the unique pressures athletes face — performance demands, injury, identity strain, transition, team culture, and confidentiality concerns.
Athlete-Specific Mental Health Care: Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about what athlete-specific mental health care is, who it helps, and what it includes.
The Most Under-Valued Donor Base in College Athletics May Be Olympic Sport Parents
Every athletic department is looking for new money. But before Olympic sports get treated mainly as cost centers, departments should ask a harder question: what if some of the most under-valued revenue in college athletics is sitting in the stands?
The Case for Peer Support in College Athletics
Why athlete-to-athlete connection is the first step most athletes will actually take — and why clinician-backed peer support is transforming mental health in college sports.
What the House Settlement Means for Athlete Mental Health
The House v. NCAA settlement reshapes college athletics financially — but its ripple effects on athlete mental health, roster cuts, and support infrastructure may be the most consequential story nobody is talking about.
Why Athletes Don't Ask for Help (And What Changes That)
The barriers between struggling athletes and mental health support are well-documented. The solutions are less discussed. Here's what the research — and lived experience — actually tells us about closing the gap.
When Care Teams Don't Match the Locker Room (What a New Study Suggests)
A recent study on racial concordance in sports healthcare reveals why trust, cultural understanding, and diverse care teams matter for athlete wellness.
Penn Athletics Partners with Onrise to Support Mental Health of Student-Athletes
The University of Pennsylvania has partnered with Onrise to expand mental health resources for its nearly 1,000 student-athletes, adding peer support, therapy, and psychiatric care.
A Letter to Coaches: How to Spot a Struggling Athlete
Coaches are often the first to notice when something is wrong. This practical guide helps coaching staffs recognize the early signs of mental health struggles and respond in ways that build trust — not walls.
100% Retention: How Onrise Keeps Athletes Engaged in Care
A deep dive into the clinical and peer engagement model that drives Onrise's industry-leading retention rates — and what that means for long-term athlete outcomes.
Onrise Clinical Outcomes Report 2025
A summary of Onrise's 2025 clinical data showing significant reductions in athlete anxiety and depression, high engagement rates, and measurable improvements in athlete well-being across collegiate and professional programs.
The Hidden Cost of Untreated Mental Health in NCAA Programs
An analysis of how untreated mental health conditions affect athletic performance, transfer rates, eligibility, and overall program outcomes at the NCAA level.
PHQ-4 Improvement in Collegiate Athletes: A Clinical Outcomes Report
Data from Onrise programs showing an average 4.53-point PHQ-4 decrease among student-athletes after 90 days of peer and clinical support.
Rethinking "Treatment Resistance": The Overlooked Role of Nutrition in Psychiatry
Millions of patients are labeled "treatment-resistant," yet basic biological issues go untested. Dr. Jacques Jospitre, Jr., Board Certified Psychiatrist and founder of SohoMD, explains why nutrition may be the missing link in modern psychiatry.
Supporting Your Student-Athlete's Mental Health
How parents can recognize struggles and provide effective support from a distance.
Why Peer Support Works: The Science Behind Clinician-Backed Peer Models
A research-backed white paper exploring why athletes are more likely to engage with peers first — and how clinical oversight makes it safe and effective.
Building a Mental Health Infrastructure
Step-by-step guidance for athletic directors implementing mental health services.
ROI of Mental Health Support in Athletics
Data-driven insights on how mental health services impact performance, retention, and organizational success.
Athlete Mental Health: A Quick-Reference One-Pager for Athletic Directors
A single-page overview of the key mental health risks, early warning signs, and recommended support structures for athletic departments.
Creating a Mentally Healthy Team Culture
How to foster an environment where mental health is normalized and supported within your program.
Mental Health Stigma in Elite Sport: What the Research Says
A review of peer-reviewed studies on stigma barriers, help-seeking behavior, and the conditions under which athletes are most likely to engage with mental health services.
Recognizing Mental Health Warning Signs in Athletes
A comprehensive guide for coaches to identify when an athlete might be struggling mentally.
Building Resilience Through Setbacks
A practical guide to developing mental toughness and bouncing back from losses, cuts, and disappointments.
Dealing with Injury: The Mental Side of Recovery
Injuries are not just physical. Discover strategies to maintain mental wellness during recovery periods.
Coach Mental Health Training: Building a Supportive Team Culture
A practical guide for coaches on recognizing mental health struggles, having difficult conversations with athletes, and when to refer to clinical support.
Understanding Performance Anxiety in Athletes
Learn how to recognize and manage performance anxiety, from pre-game jitters to competition-day stress.
Sleep Optimization for Traveling Athletes
Evidence-based strategies to maintain quality sleep during travel, supporting both performance and mental wellness.
Mental Health Infrastructure for Professional Sports Organizations
A white paper outlining what best-in-class mental health infrastructure looks like for professional leagues and teams — from intake to crisis support.
Injury, Identity & Mental Health: Supporting Athletes Through Career Transitions
An article exploring the psychological impact of injury and retirement on athlete identity, with evidence-based recommendations for athletic support staff.
Mental Health 101 for Athletes
Essential foundation for understanding mental health, recognizing struggles, and knowing when to seek support.
When Care Teams Don't Match the Locker Room (What a New Study Suggests)
A recent study on racial concordance in sports healthcare reveals why trust, cultural understanding, and diverse care teams matter for athlete wellness.
Supporting Your Student-Athlete's Mental Health
How parents can recognize struggles and provide effective support from a distance.
Building a Mental Health Infrastructure
Step-by-step guidance for athletic directors implementing mental health services.
ROI of Mental Health Support in Athletics
Data-driven insights on how mental health services impact performance, retention, and organizational success.
Creating a Mentally Healthy Team Culture
How to foster an environment where mental health is normalized and supported within your program.
Recognizing Mental Health Warning Signs in Athletes
A comprehensive guide for coaches to identify when an athlete might be struggling mentally.
Building Resilience Through Setbacks
A practical guide to developing mental toughness and bouncing back from losses, cuts, and disappointments.
Dealing with Injury: The Mental Side of Recovery
Injuries are not just physical. Discover strategies to maintain mental wellness during recovery periods.
Understanding Performance Anxiety in Athletes
Learn how to recognize and manage performance anxiety, from pre-game jitters to competition-day stress.
Sleep Optimization for Traveling Athletes
Evidence-based strategies to maintain quality sleep during travel, supporting both performance and mental wellness.
Mental Health 101 for Athletes
Essential foundation for understanding mental health, recognizing struggles, and knowing when to seek support.
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