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Research Article Volume 9 issue 3
Perceptions of mental health and barriers to help-seeking among division i women’s lacrosse student-athletes
Sarah Stokowski, Ciara Devenuto- Wyeth, Jasmine Cohen- Young, Chris Croft, Chris Corr
College of Education, Clemson University, USA
College of Social Work, University of Kentucky, USA
College of Business and Economic Development, The University of Southern Mississippi, USA
Received: September 08, 2026 | Published: September 29, 2026
Citation: Devenuto-Wyeth C, Cohen-Young J, Stokowski S, et al. Perceptions of mental health and barriers to help-seeking among division i women’s lacrosse student-athletes. MOJ Sports Med. 2026;9(3):90‒99. DOI: 10.15406/mojsm.2026.09.00205
Abstract
Women’s lacrosse student-athletes navigate overlapping academic, athletic, interpersonal, and performance demands that may influence psychological well-being and decisions about seeking support. Although mental health among collegiate athletes has received increasing attention, less is known about how NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse student-athletes understand mental health and perceive available resources. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore Division I women’s lacrosse student-athletes’ perceptions of mental health and perceived barriers to help-seeking. Structured Zoom interviews were conducted with seven NCAA Division I Power 4 women’s lacrosse student-athletes, and structural coding was used to organize responses in relation to the research questions. Findings indicated that participants viewed mental health as essential to overall well-being and athletic functioning, although they differed in how they described its relationship with performance. Participants also reported varying awareness of available mental health resources and differing perceptions of whether student-athletes utilized those resources. Stigma, communication, supportive relationships, and team culture emerged as important considerations in participants’ descriptions of help-seeking. These findings highlight the distinction between resource availability, awareness, and perceived utilization and suggest that athletic departments should prioritize clear pathways to care, mental health education, supportive team environments, and the normalization of help-seeking.
Keywords: women’s lacrosse; student-athlete mental health; help-seeking; mental health resources; team culture
©2026 Devenuto-Wyeth, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.