This study by The Football Players Health Study at Harvard University explores the prevalence of perceived Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and its association with suicidality among former professional football players. Approximately one-third of the participants reported believe they had CTE. Those with perceived CTE exhibited higher rates of health issues such as depression, cognitive difficulties, and pain, and were significantly more likely to report suicidal ideation. The findings highlight that perceived CTE may serve as a novel risk factor for suicidality in this population. Julius Thomas, M.S. gives his thoughts on the matter:
Perceived CTE can significantly affect an individual’s mental health by diminishing a former player’s belief in their ability to manage negative symptoms. This sense of hopelessness may reduce motivation to seek help and manage their health, potentially leading to suicidal ideation. Importantly, many athletes are unaware that the symptoms associated with CTE are also common in other treatable mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression.
To mitigate the health and social impacts of perceived CTE, it is essential to educate former players. Self-diagnosis can have detrimental effects, and this is true for CTE as well. It’s natural for former contact sports athletes to have concerns about developing CTE; however, it is unfortunately rare for them to receive mental health education on the subject. This lack of education likely influences their perceptions of CTE. Players need to understand that numerous interventions can alleviate symptoms they attribute to CTE.
In my opinion, media coverage of CTE has mixed effects. While it has been crucial in raising awareness, it has also fostered a fatalistic narrative among some former players, leading them to believe they are powerless to improve their situations. The notion that all former contact sports athletes will inevitably develop CTE poses a significant challenge. Since CTE can only be diagnosed post-mortem, no one can definitively know if they have it, and not all athletes will experience severe cognitive decline. As a health community, we must create environments where players can receive education and mental health support for symptoms they associate with CTE. I advocate for continued media coverage of CTE but believe it should increasingly focus on recent research, offering a more balanced and educational perspective.
Mental health professionals play a vital role in assisting former players with symptoms they think may be linked to CTE. Trained professionals can implement evidence-based interventions to help alleviate depression, anxiety, emotional challenges, pain, and even suicidal thoughts. I strongly encourage any former player experiencing mental or cognitive symptoms to reach out to a mental health professional. It’s important for them to recognize that there is hope and that various behavioral strategies can reduce cognitive and psychological risk factors, even post-career.
The most critical aspect of this discussion is the heightened prevalence of suicidality among players who believe they have CTE. There is a striking difference in suicidal ideation rates between athletes who believe they have CTE and those who do not; the latter group is five times less likely to experience suicidal thoughts. This data underscores the need for sports organizations and health professionals to help athletes better understand CTE, its diagnosis, and associated risks. When athletes lack clarity about their experiences, they may misattribute other mental health symptoms to CTE. I want to offer encouragement and support to those who think they might be suffering from CTE symptoms, and I hope for increased efforts to provide contact sports athletes with evidence-based education on CTE.
Upcoming Appearances
- Julius will be appearing on an upcoming episode of Zebra Technologies “Chalk Talk” Podcast.
- Julius will be speaking at Compass Real Estate’s Charleston RETREAT on Wednesday, November 13th.