Mikey Williams, Miles Bridges, Ja Morant And Athlete Mental Health

Mental health issues and criminal activity is on the rise among young athletes and cases are surfacing regularly in the media. This trend is quite disturbing and worth addressing as the number of young athlete lives that are affected continues to spiral out of control.

The latest high-profile example involves a high school basketball phenom, Mikey Williams. In the past, Williams has been the subject of numerous reports of alleged criminal activity, including assault, battery, and theft. In 2021, Williams was arrested and charged with felony assault after he allegedly punched a man in the face during an altercation at a party. Most recently, Williams has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon.

To put things in perspective, since 2010 the arrest rate for young athletes increased by 15% and mental health issues increased by 40%.

The Mikey Williams charges come on the heels of a series of incidents involving Ja Morant, the star point guard for the Memphis Grizzlies. In 2021, Morant was arrested and charged with assault after he allegedly punched a man in the face during an altercation at a bowling alley. Morant was eventually acquitted of the charges, but the incident raised concerns about his behavior and his potential for violence. Then most recently following an NBA game, Morant posted a video of himself in a club brandishing a gun. This led to an eight-game suspension after the NBA conducted an extensive investigation of the circumstances surrounding the gun toting incident.

Another case covered in the media was that of Miles Bridges, the forward for the Charlotte Hornets. In 2022, Bridges was arrested and charged with felony domestic violence after his wife filed a restraining order against him. Bridges was eventually released on bail, but the case is still pending. However, after investigating the NBA suspended him for 30 games.

My view is that two very powerful and interconnected forces are responsible for this unfortunate trend:

1. the addiction of youth to social media and

2. the influence of peer groups that are also getting their inspiration and motivation from social media.

Social media has become a powerful force that didn’t exist in culture until quite recently. Social media is where the youth of today consumes news, information and turns to for entertainment; and it is no different for young athletes. In fact, a recent study found that 97% of young athletes use social media. For young people TikTok has replaced Google
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as a search engine and since social media deploys powerful algorithms designed to grab and keep people’s attention, the content it serves up often feeds upon people’s insecurities and fears just to keep them engaged.

However unintended, it is undeniable that social media negatively impacts the health of young athletes in the following ways:

Increased stress and anxiety: social media encourages them to compare themselves to other athletes, worry about what others think of them, or feel pressure to perform at a high level. This can lead to feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.

Sleep deprivation: Social media can also lead to sleep deprivation. Young athletes who spend a lot of time on social media may stay up late scrolling through their feeds, which can lead to fatigue and impaired performance.

Eating disorders: Social media can also contribute to eating disorders. Young athletes who are constantly bombarded with images of perfect bodies may develop unrealistic expectations of themselves, which can lead to eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.

Cyberbullying: Cyberbullying is a serious problem that can have a devastating impact on young athletes. Cyberbullies can post hurtful and mean comments on social media, which can lead to feelings of isolation, depression, and even suicide.

If all this wasn’t enough, these young athletes are being further influenced by their friend group usually comprised of other athletes or those around the same age who have been similarly influenced by social media and perhaps suffering from mental health issues themselves. This has a fly wheel effect spiraling these young people downward. The Framingham Heart Study Social contagion research has shown that people’s attitudes and behaviors can be “contagious” within social networks. In other words, you naturally gravitate towards what your circle of friends do and promote and towards a social identify likened to their friends as well as confirming to the code of conduct exhibited by the group.

As all of these negative forces are at work it is increasingly important for parents, coaches, and athletes themselves to be aware of these risks and take proactive measures. Unfortunately, many young athletes lack adequate support systems and often choose a circle of friends and confidants that are a bad influence. Tackling this problem head on is the last thing they are thinking about.

Moreover, these athletes may not have access to mental health professionals nor friends or family members who can provide them with support. This can make it difficult for them to cope with the pressures of their sport and the demands of their lives. Sometimes family members are not even aware there is a problem.

We have to make athlete mental health a priority now and stop being in denial. Identifying and firmly acknowledging that the problem is pervasive is the first step. This starts at home with the parents, the educational institutions, the sports leagues, teams and coaches— and our society as a whole. We must then take affirmative action to educate young athletes of the dangers associated with the lifestyle influenced by social media and/or by their peers and ensure they have a support group that can help them overcome these challenges. It takes a village to solve a problem like this and and all of us need to look this squarely in the eye and be part of the solution.