Mel Tucker, Michigan State players talk mental health resources in new football building

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State University has been proactive in allocating proper mental health resources to all students, including student-athletes, over the past few years, given all that’s occurred in terms of the COVID-19 pandemic and the tragic shooting on campus.

On Thursday after fall football practice, Michigan State head football coach Mel Tucker spoke to the media about the resources the football program has implemented now and for the future. This includes a new mental health office space in the recently-constructed Tom Izzo Football Building.

The space originially housed the old player’s lounge before construction began. Now, the new offices provide resources and act as a safe space for student-athletes to access various specialists.

“It’ll have multuple entrances, which is important,” Tucker said of the offices. “It is for all of our student-athletes. (There’s) different ways to access it, which makes it just a lot easier and more comfortable for the student-athletes to get in there, get out, and get the help that they need.”

Mental health became a particularly siginificant topic of conversation during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the United States. One in five U.S. adults experience mental illness each year, and one in 20 endure a serious mental illness, according to the National Alliance on Mental Health.

There’s an added element of stress for student-athletes, who are trying to figure out their young adult lives while competing for a high-level sports program. Most students don’t go through that. The physical and mental demands of a college football player, for example, are rigorous and sometimes overwhelming.

Between managing a full-time class schedule, practices, mandatory workouts, film sessions and possibly a job all while trying to make time for friends and family, it’s a lot to juggle at once.

“I think it’s important to take care of your mental health,” Tucker said. “The demands of this sport are rigorous and if you don’t take time to prioritize yourself and your mental health, it’s going to end up eating you alive.”

Michigan State’s student-athletes have had a particularly challenging time over the past few months due to the tragic shooting that occurred on campus last February. It impacted the entire Michigan State community. Since then, Michigan State officials have pushed for more mental health resources across campus.

“I think everyone was affected by it one way or another here,” Tucker said. “We’ve done our best to try and get resources for everyone on our team if anything is bothering them. Something like that will change your whole life.”

Michigan State sophomore defensive back Dillon Tatum had a class in the same building where the shooting started, just two hours prior.

“It was pretty scary and hit home,” Tatum said. “Those were some of my classmates and I feel so bad about those injured and killed in something that was senseless.”

Tatum believes that mental health is being talked about more amongst student-athletes.

“I always tell my teammates, if there’s anything bothering them, come talk to me if they want to,” Tatum said. “It doesn’t always have to be football, either. We can talk about school, relationships, family anything. It always helps to know someone is there for you.”

Redshirt junior quarterback Noah Kim echoed Tatum’s sentiments.

“We’ve had specialists come in and talk to us individually, as well as a group,” Kim said. “It’s given everyone a clear mind to go in and attack every day the best you can and in turn I think made our football team better.”

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