Mental health struggles among athletes and Gen Z men

The tragic suicide of former NFL and Purdue University wideout Rondale Moore last month shocked and saddened many football fans. Moore was only 25 and had back-to-back season-ending injuries: a dislocated right knee during his 2024 training camp with the Atlanta Falcons, then a left knee injury while playing for the Minnesota Vikings the following preseason. The Arizona Cardinals selected Moore in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft, and he had a solid rookie season with 435 receiving yards and one touchdown. While playing for Purdue, he was a consensus All-American as a freshman, torching defensive secondaries in the Big Ten. I, along with other avid Ohio State fans, will never forget Moore's 170-yard receiving performance when the Boilermakers upset the Buckeyes 49-20 in 2018. There was no doubt that Moore was an elite playmaker once he made it to the NFL, and even with his recent injuries, he seemed to be on the road to recovery. In fact, before his death, Moore posted a photo of himself on Instagram stating he was "a work in progress." Shortly after this update, Moore was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. When I first read the news of Moore's passing, I began thinking about the troubling increase in suicide among Gen Z men. An October Stateline report from last year showed that Black and Hispanic men account for 85% of the rising Gen Z suicide rates, and that many of them are experiencing deep depression and hopelessness. It's very difficult for them to reach out for help with their mental health challenges, and oftentimes, they feel angry because they are dealing with emotional struggles. Young White males battling suicidal ideation also wrestle with these issues, as suicide rates for those between 15 and 34 are extremely high, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Moore's death, as well as the suicide of former Dallas Cowboys' defensive end Marshawn Kneeland last November, has brought more attention to what is considered an escalating suicide crisis among Black males. In my column on Kneeland, I mentioned a key 2024 University of Georgia study that examined adverse cultural factors affecting Black men and boys in rural areas of the state, focusing on primary circumstances such as financial insecurity, racial discrimination, mistrust and social stigmas of toughness. While Moore did not come from a poverty-stricken background, he was probably dealing with how he was being perceived as an injury-prone athlete, and the physicality required to come back from two major knee surgeries more than likely took a toll on his mental health. Kneeland's girlfriend shared with police that he had a history of mental illness. Both of these high-profile cases can place more attention on the need for "culturally informed and systemic prevention and intervention strategies" that the UGA researchers are calling for. Many also believe that the NFL needs to do more to help players overcome mental health difficulties. Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn recently said in an interview that the league should not wait until "tragedy hits" to discuss mental health, although he thinks that the NFL is "making real strides" in "player engagement." The league's Total Wellness page provides an overview of services to help players navigate the pressures of "living in the spotlight" and cope with the game's emotional and physical demands. Each NFL team could also adopt a more personalized wellness approach in following up with players. Many social media posts from current NFL stars after Moore's suicide stressed the urgency to "check in on your people." I also think that NFL chaplains will become even more involved in counseling players with mental health struggles who desire to seek God for spiritual guidance and strength. Chaplains already hold Bible studies and provide "confidential counseling" for NFL teams and their families. This is definitely an essential need now. One of the most touching posts on X for spiritual encouragement sent to Moore before his death came from Kansas City Chiefs' wide receiver Marquise Brown. Brown told Moore that "sometimes in life when (things) don't go as planned, as frustrating as it may be, (you) have to always remember God is in control ... all we can do is trust Him." I pray that other NFL players presently struggling with their mental health begin to trust God to see them through their darkest moments. Dr. Jessica A. Johnson is a lecturer in the English department at Ohio State University's Lima campus. Email her at smojc.jj@gmail.com.