The Howard men’s basketball team is using its social justice project to spotlight the lasting impact of mental health challenges on young people.
The team noticed its players seeking support for their mental health and wanted to share resources with those in need. With their 2024-25 social justice project, they will encourage conversations about mental health and act as a support system for those facing psychological challenges.
At the beginning of the season, the team held conversations about how their love and dedication to basketball have impacted their mental health.
“With that amount of care, brings certain anxieties,” Bryce Harris, a senior guard from Long Island, New York said. “We put so much pressure on ourselves to be able to do things that we need to do for the university.”
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), 88 percent of students experienced moderate to severe stress, with 44 percent of students showing moderate to severe anxiety, as of 2021.
During the first half of this year’s season, the Bison focused on voter engagement leading up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Their efforts included an apparel line called “Howard Bison Votes” and a partnership with The Team, a nonpartisan organization with the initiative to incorporate civic engagement into college athletics.
For the second half of the season, the Bison are focusing on mental health. The team recognizes the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental well-being and is collaborating with sports psychologist Joe Carr to raise awareness and provide tools to help individuals navigate mental health challenges.
According to the NIH, the pandemic worsened pre-existing mental health conditions and contributed to the development of stress-related disorders in children and adolescents, particularly those who were already vulnerable.
Head Coach Blakeney said that Carr’s work with the program has contributed to the team’s success over the years. Carr has provided players with techniques and tools to enhance their performance on and off the court.
“He’s been able to connect us as a team, first and foremost, in a way that’s given us a great opportunity to win back-to-back,” Blakeney said.
Head coach Kenneth Blakeney said Carr has also helped players be “more healthy, more confident than they were when they came.”
Some players, including Harris and freshman point guard Blake Harper, have fully embraced Carr’s guidance and became mental health ambassadors. As ambassadors, these players are continuously educating those around them about the importance of taking care of their mental health and being a support system for those who seek comfort and guidance.
On Feb. 2, the team hosted its first event, in partnership with the Inner Journey app, called “Yoga at Burr.” During the event, the team and students participated in group yoga while engaging in discussions about mental health.
Harper, a criminology major from Washington, D.C., said he appreciated having “the people that support [them] in the same vicinity as [them] other than a game.”
Harper said he was touched by the experience because it allowed students to see the players as more than just athletes.
Throughout the project, the program will encourage the prioritization of mental health among its athletes, the student body, the D.C. community and beyond.
“If we can give not only our student-athletes the tools but also be an ambassador for mental health for others, this project will be a huge success for us,” Blakeney said.
Copy edited by Aniyah Genama
