Changing The Conversation: “The Hidden Opponent” Elevates Mental Health Awareness In Athletics

Written by Stephanie Moreau '26 (women's volleyball student-athlete)
- Endicott Athletics Student Beat Writer

BEVERLY, Mass. — The stigma around mental health and athletics has taken the world of sports by storm.

Last October, Endicott students teamed up to end the stigma on our campus, by creating a chapter of a mental health advocacy organization, The Hidden Opponent, right here at Endicott. 

The Hidden Opponent is an accredited non-profit that works to spark a conversation about the internal battles that many student-athletes face, while ending the stigma within today's sports culture. 

The advocacy organization was created in 2017 by Victoria Garrick Browne, a former member of the University of Southern California women's volleyball team. Garrick founded the organization following her TedX talk about mental health for student-athletes. 

Katrina Haddad '26, president of Endicott's chapter of The Hidden Opponent, found out about the organization the summer before her freshman year. Haddad applied and was accepted into The Hidden Opponent's "Campus Captain" program, which mentors students who are looking to bring chapters to their campus(es). 

Upon arriving at Endicott in the fall, Haddad gathered a group of students, including Vice President Braeley MacDonald '26, to help her establish a chapter on campus. 

While reflecting on starting a chapter here on campus, Haddad and MacDonald talked about the urgency for an increase in communication about mental health resources on campus, specifically for student-athletes. 

"When she [Haddad] approached me before we started it [Endicott's The Hidden Opponent chapter] the main goal was to just have resources on campus," said MacDonald. 

A year after the establishment of the chapter, the group is looking to broaden its horizons, as its current focus is creating a safe space for students to talk about uncomfortable things. 

Teaming Up To Make An Impact 

Just over the past year, the group has made impressive efforts to end the stigma on campus. 

The club holds bi-weekly meetings (on Sunday evenings) which are open to the entire Endicott community. Each meeting surrounds a theme, such as last week's subject matter about being proactive vs. reactive when it comes to mental health. 

Last year, the club hosted panels, which were open to all students, on topics such as women in sports and transitioning out of sport. These panels act as resources for students on campus to share their thoughts, while connecting with other athletes and former athletes who share similar experiences.

Endicott's chapter also hosts mental health awareness games for athletic teams on campus, which have gone a long way in connecting athletes with the cause. 

"This year, it's a huge thing that the teams are reaching out to us. Whereas last year, we did a lot of the reaching out," said Haddad. 

Over the last two months, the club has hosted mental health awareness games for the football, men's soccer, women's soccer, rowing (crew), women's volleyball, and field hockey teams. 

The organization has made it a focal point to connect with teams across campus, and those efforts have gone a long way. MacDonald said that the club has "gotten a lot of positive feedback from coaches specifically who really want to have a game for mental health awareness." 

Beyond The Student Body

To make as strong of an impact on Endicott's community as possible, The Hidden Opponent has worked hard to communicate openly with the athletic department. 

Dr. Brian A. Wylie, Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics, acknowledged that because of organizations such as The Hidden Opponent, the athletic department is more aware of what students are going through. 

"I'm more than open and willing to provide any avenues to create more awareness, or any opportunities for student-athletes to provide safe settings to talk, and to hear, and to just listen about things that they're going through, or about what other people are going through," said Dr. Wylie. 

Dr. Wylie acknowledged that mental health was not a heavy topic of conversation within sports culture many years ago, but that has definitely changed as of late. 

"Those are things that we never talked about, coaches never did five or ten, twenty, thirty years ago. And now, we are becoming not even just understanding of it, but almost expecting that that's going to be a part of our coaching strategy with our student-athletes and our department."

In staff meetings, Dr. Wylie shared that coaches will talk a lot about what has worked for their team when it comes to a mental health plan, and what has not. At the end of every meeting, around two to three coaches will share a highlight of what they have done in the last month with their program about mental health and well-being. 

"That provides ideas to other coaches within their own mental health and well-being plan with their team(s)," added Dr. Wylie. 

It's Okay To Not Be Okay

With the heavy stigma that mental health holds within athletics, organizations such as The Hidden Opponent are aiming to advocate for student-athletes, and share that it is okay to not always be okay. 

Megan Murphy '25, a member of the women's volleyball team, shared her own experiences with being a part of the club. 

"I think that it is enlightening that it is okay to share how you are feeling, and it's okay to feel something other than just happiness and being okay 100 percent of the time." 

With the way that sports culture has grown and changed over the years, The Hidden Opponent has been an integral part in explaining to students that they are not alone in the battles that they face on a daily basis. For students here at Endicott, it's refreshing to know that other people may be feeling the same way and share similar experiences that are not often talked about.

"It's opened my eyes about being able to talk to people about it [mental health and athletics]," said Murphy. 

Looking Ahead

While Endicott's chapter of The Hidden Opponent has made great strides in starting conversations between coaches, athletes, and athletic faculty, its job is far from over. 

Haddad believes that there will always be a stigma, as people are under the impression that taking care of your mental health only refers to talking about issues that one may be faced with. 

In reality, The Hidden Opponent advocates for student-athletes to become self-aware, and understand that they are not just what they do. 

Haddad mentioned that the club's message to athletes is that you are eventually going to stop playing your sport, whether that be before or after you graduate. It's important to enjoy the time and opportunity you have been given, but also understand how important it is to find yourself outside of your sport to avoid burnout or identity struggles. 

"And I think that's our goal, to just help athletes find themselves outside of their sports," said Haddad.

With the passion this group has for ending the stigma, and the incredible support they have received from athletic faculty and staff, The Hidden Opponent at Endicott College is sure to make a lasting impact on the success and well-being of student-athletes within the college's community. 

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(Photo Credit - Mazzie Hinsdale '26)