Mental health advocacy is an important issue that has gained increased attention in recent years, and Bernards High School is about to take a significant step forward in this area. After months of work, The Hidden Opponent Club, a non-profit organization, is officially launching at the school to create an open, supportive space for students to talk about mental health and break down the stigma that often surrounds it.
This club is part of a nationwide network that spans hundreds of college and high school campuses around the United States and works to destigmatize the mental health pressures that athletes and coaches may feel in the sports setting. Their goal is to create a long-lasting systemic change in sports through advocacy work. This organization was created in 2019 by Victoria Browne, a former Division I athlete from the University of Southern California who played on USC’s women’s volleyball team from 2015 to 2019. According to the Hidden Opponent Organization website, “The Hidden Opponent is the leading non-profit organization for athlete mental health advocacy, education, and support. We provide accessible resources and unite a global community to empower athletes to prioritize their mental health and shatter the stigma within sports culture.”
A study done by Mclean Hospital in 2019 found that about 35% of elite athletes have mental health concerns. The pressure to perform at a high level can lead to anxiety, burnout, and depression, as athletes constantly face expectations from coaches, fans, family, etc. The study highlighted the importance of integrating mental health care into sports programs to ensure athletes’ overall well-being.
One of the organization’s flagship programs is the Campus Captains Program, which empowers student-athlete ambassadors to bring mental health awareness directly to their campuses. These virtual meetings connect student leaders from schools across the country, enabling them to collaborate and share strategies for supporting mental well-being. Lucie Robles ‘26, the student who introduced The Hidden Opponent to BHS, is a part of this program. Through it, she has access to resources, events, and programming that help her guide and mentor her peers at BHS. Robles says, “They guide us so we can guide our schools.”
As BHS has 16 sports all year, they are hoping to help connect student-athletes with valuable strategies and resources to address common mental health challenges, such as anxiety, depression, and other struggles. As a mental health professional and coach at BHS, as well as a former student-athlete, The Hidden Opponent is an organization that combines Ms. Alexa Lavalle’s passions and interests. Lavalle, who serves as the supervisor for this club, shares, “We are hopeful that The Hidden Opponent will help to de-stigmatize struggles with mental health amongst athletes. The mental component is often overshadowed by the physical component, but I believe they hold equal weight.”
Robles and Lavalle plan to have guest speakers and connect with all sports at BHS. An interest meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 25th, in the community room during lunch.
