When Grief Enters the Locker Room |
When a death occurs in a sport environment, particularly a death by suicide, its impact can ripple through entire organizations. Athletes, coaches, and sport staff, including those tasked with supporting organizations through crises (e.g., sport psychologists, athletic counselors), often experience collective waves of shock, grief, and unanswered questions.
This reality was central to a recent conversation with professional soccer player for RC Strasbourg Sierra Enge and adolescent mental health and suicide expert Dr. Kimberly O’Brien. Together, Sierra and Dr. O’Brien bring both lived and professional experience to the intersection of grief, suicide prevention, and athlete mental health. Throughout our discussion, their perspectives underscored a critical truth: we still do not fully understand the weight or complexity of grief and loss within sport environments, especially when that loss is due to suicide.
For many athletes, sport is not just something they do. Over time, it becomes central to who they are. Sierra described growing up excelling in soccer and receiving external reinforcement that her value was directly tied to performance. Social media, increased visibility, and constant evaluation intensified this dynamic over time. She continues to navigate these same pressures as a professional athlete today.
When performance declines, injury occurs, or life circumstances disrupt sport participation, many athletes experience a significant rupture in identity. In these moments, the internal message can quickly become, “If I am not performing, I am not valuable.” This belief can fuel social and emotional challenges, including anxiety, withdrawal from sport, and