West Chester-raised Amanda Gomez is making an impact on her Washington, D.C. campus. As a sophomore at the Catholic University of America, Gomez is shining a light on the importance of mental health in sports, writes Cecilia Engbert for The Catholic University of America.

She’s been playing softball since the age of six and plays for the university’s team. Throughout her time on the field, she’s seen how mental health impacts her fellow athletes.  

“It’s a common thing in athletics to roll over mental health and just say ‘tough it out.’ And so that’s what we’re trying to stop; it’s OK to talk about it when you’re suffering,” said Gomez. 

When Gomez was a first-year student, she took it upon herself to become an ambassador for the nonprofit The Hidden Opponent.  

Since the organization came to campus, it’s hosted multiple events that raise awareness and destigmatize mental health struggles.  

For Eating Disorder Awareness week, The Hidden Opponent’s campus chapter invited students to write nice things about themselves and stick them on a mirror.  

“What I noticed most about students here is that they really want to make change,” said Gomez. “When given the opportunity, I found that a lot of people want to be involved.” 

Read more about the West Chester-raised student at The Catholic University of America.

The World Health Organization on athletes’ mental health.