This month we are highlighting Suicide Prevention Awareness Month to shed light on the importance of mental health and the essential need for supportive communities. For student-athletes, the pressure to perform both on and off the court can feel overwhelming. Often times student-athletes experience injuries, burnout, identity struggles and mental health challenges that often go unseen, making open conversations and support systems crucial. At Endicott College, Women’s Basketball manager and Hardwood Hustle coach, Katrina Haddad is creating safe spaces for student-athletes to feel connected and part of a larger community, through the expansion of The Hidden Opponent Organization (THO).
During Katrina’s senior year of High School she tore her ACL. This is an injury that far too many athletes experience, that cause physical pain and less talked about emotional pain. During this time of being injured and not being able to play basketball, she had feelings of isolation and questions of her identity now as an injured athlete. However, this painful time lead Katrina to never wanting another athlete to feel how she felt, alone. And to be an advocate for student athletes mental health.
Now, as a Senior at Endicott College she is the President of The Hidden Opponent at Endicott College. The Hidden Opponent is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to student-athlete mental health, education, advocacy and support. THO works with High School and College campuses through their program “Campus Captains” to bring mental health initiatives and resources directly to the campuses.
Building A Campus Community Through Collaboration and Support
When Katrina was a Freshman, she proposed to bring The Hidden Opponent to Endicott College. At first the organization on campus had four board members, now the leadership team has grown to twelve board members and 25-30 active student-athlete members. Katrina stated, “We kept getting more people involved and once people feel like they have a role, they feel like they can help other people. Everyone involved are advocates, they are advocates for their teams. There is so much healing in giving back. This club is what healed me.”
The initiatives THO offer range from campus wide events and guest speakers to “mental health games” in partnership with athletic teams. One of their signature programs, the Sports Representatives Program, brings together athletes on campus for monthly discussions on topics such as performance anxiety, burnout, and any relevant challenges student-athletes may be facing. They also have general meetings with the student-athelte community that meet every Sunday to discuss mental health supports and resources. “These conversations athletes have with one another encourages them to open up and shows them that their well being matters.”
Athletes that participate in The Hidden Opponent at Endicott College have stated:
- “I really enjoy the open conversations with others. It was refreshing to hear others relate to different challenges in being an athlete.”
- “The meetings are liberating to talk about things that I usually wouldn’t.”
- “I like listening to different perspectives of teams.”
- “I can relate my past experiences with others.”
Katrina continued to state,”the majority of the feedback talks about people having a community to go to, which is really great. It is so amazing to hear these things from student-athletes because a lot of people wouldn’t normally speak up and the fact that they feel like they have a place to, is everything.”
The Hidden Opponents success at Endicott College has been fueled by collaboration with coaches, trainers, and administrators, and athletic directors. Katrina noted that conversations with staff happen on a weekly basis, and coaches themselves who request mental health events for their teams.
“Having that support from above is huge,” she explained. “It shows athletes that their mental health matters and they are important.”
Advice on Creating Safe Spaces
A key message Katrina emphasizes to parents, coaches, or peers is the importance of listening.
“It is all about creating an open space.” she said. “Sometimes they just need someone to hear them. Maybe they just want to rant about something that is bothering them and they just need someone to listen. Being able to differentiate when an athlete needs you to listen or give advice is important. How you respond will shape whether they’ll feel comfortable opening up again.” Katrina continued to speak on the high importance of coaches discussing mental health with their athletes.
“Players may think that speaking up about their mental health to coaches may be seen as weak. Coaches, especially need to show that talking about mental health won’t affect playing time. Coaches need to prove to their players that they will be someone that will also listen to them. That kind of reassurance changes everything for athletes.”
Reflecting Back and Looking Ahead
As Katrina heads into her senior year, she is reflecting on the impact of THO, “I am so proud that people are talking about their mental health and that they feel comfortable to speak.” And as Katrina finishes her senior year at Endicott she is focused on still furthering the growth of community within The Hidden Opponent and events that positively impact athletes mental health.
“We have the Suicide Prevention 5K coming up on September 27th at Endicott. Every year we have wanted to do a 5K, so we’re so excited that this year it is finally happening.”
Looking to her own personal future Katrina is exploring a graduate program in Psychology or Physical Therapy, with the hopes of staying connected to athletes through sports performance and mental health. Katrina also has a deep passion for coaching.
“Being a part of the Hidden Opponent community has completely changed me. I see myself taking part in mental health in whatever capacity that may be. Still being able to work with the athlete population is important. Mental health is who we are.”
Katrina’s journey reminds us that resilience and vulnerability can walk hand in hand. What began as a personal challenge has transformed into a movement that is reshaping the way student-athletes approach mental health. By creating space for honest conversations and building a culture of support, she has left a mark that will extend well beyond her years at Endicott College. Her work with The Hidden Opponent is not just a chapter in her own story, it will be a legacy of strength, compassion, and community that will continue to inspire others to put their mental health first.
Resources for Support
If you or someone you know is struggling, please know you are not alone. Here are some resources you can turn to:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Dial or text 988 for free, confidential support available 24/7.
- Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor.
- The Hidden Opponent – thehiddenopponent.org offers resources and community for student-athletes.
- If you want to start a Hidden Opponent Community at your High School or College Campus apply to become a Campus Captain on their website.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Call 1-800-950-NAMI or visit https://www.nami.org
You matter. Support is always available.
Written By: Katie Zenevitch-Reyes Hardwood Hustle Coach & Client Success Manager