And when athletes have to advocate their way through a gate, what do they carry with them once they are on the other side?

Perhaps a heightened awareness of who has power. A need to keep proving they belong. A sharper sense of how quickly opportunity can depend on someone else’s perception of their value.

There may be value in situating a mental health professional within the Athletics & Recreation clinical team, alongside the professionals already supporting student-athlete health, while maintaining a meaningful connection to the university’s broader mental health infrastructure.

The athletes most vulnerable within sport do not need to be taught how to tolerate more. They need environments that expose them to less harm — and care that understands who they are and what they're up against.