LA JOLLA, Calif. – In the midst of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Triton Athletes’ Council (TAC) is giving scholar-athletes, students, alumni, and the entire community an opportunity to come together and learn more about mental health. At 6 p.m. on Tuesday, all are invited to attend The Hidden Opponent: Mental Health as a University Student and Scholar-Athlete via Zoom. 

The event will feature speaker Victoria Garrick, a USC women’s volleyball alumna, followed by a discussion with panel members Garrick, psychologist Dr. Rhonda Hackshaw, men’s volleyball player Gabe Avillion, and a student peer wellness educator. For TAC Community Service Chair Sreeganesh Manoharan of the UC San Diego men’s tennis team, the event has been long anticipated.

“I’ve always known that mental health is a big thing for students in general and athletes as well,” Manoharan said. “Around October, I brought up the idea to [Associate AD] Danielle [Melman] and the UC San Diego Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) about having a guest speaker. They absolutely loved the idea, so we moved forward pretty quickly from there.”

One of the key components in planning the event was finding a speaker. Inspiration struck Manoharan when he watched Garrick’s TED Talk, Athletes and Mental Health: The Hidden Opponent. In her TED Talk, the former scholar-athlete discussed her battles with situational depression, anxiety, and a binge-eating disorder.

“I absolutely loved the way she was able to connect with me as a student-athlete, but more importantly, she connected with me as a student,” Manoharan shared. “She was able to explain what she went through in a way that I could relate to, and for any event, that’s what you want from a speaker.”

Manoharan understands that scholar-athletes like Garrick, himself, and all those at UC San Diego don’t always prioritize mental health as much as they should despite the stress they face. 

“One of the biggest things as students and athletes is that we’re put under a high amount of pressure to perform,” Manoharan explained. “We don’t always take the time for our mental well-being even though we take the time for our physical well-being. We take breaks, we take naps, but we don’t really take the time for our mental health.

As we move into Division I, it’s going to be even more important because we’re a very strong school academically, and I think adding DI rigor to that will increase stress.”

Manoharan hopes that The Hidden Opponent: Mental Health as a University Student and Scholar-Athlete will help the attendees see the need to prioritize their mental wellbeing. The event will help them identify opportunities to improve their mental health. 

“I want people to know there are resources out there,” Manoharan said. “Even if people aren’t comfortable going to the resources, I want them to know that there are ways we can take care of our mental health, like through friends or family. That’s still difficult for some people, but there are always going to be resources there for them.”

With the stressful situations currently presented by COVID-19, Manoharan feels that the event will benefit attendees now more than ever.

“It was important before, but this pandemic situation brings even more challenges,” Manoharan reflected. “By having Victoria speak to us, we can see what the best resources are. The most important part is letting everyone know that even in this situation we can stand together and stay strong.”

Manoharan hopes the focus on mental health will continue following tomorrow evening’s event in order to create a long-lasting impact. The senior is set to graduate in June and wants future TAC members to encourage mental health awareness at UC San Diego.

“If TAC continues to implement more of a focus on our mental well-being, I think we’ll be in a better position to do well in championships and research and the classroom and in all aspects,” Manoharan said. “Prioritizing mental health is the best way to give us an additional edge.”

To attend The Hidden Opponent: Mental Health as a University Student and Scholar-Athlete at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, please RSVP here.

About UC San Diego Athletics

After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program begins a new era in 2020 as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I.  The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions III and II and helped guide more than 1,300 scholar-athletes to All-America honors.  A total of 82 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships.  UC San Diego student-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.