Cailin Bracken on her mental health journey as a student athlete
ABOUT THE EPISODE
Cailin Bracken, a lacrosse player at Vanderbilt University, joins Walt on this episode of Athletes OnBalance. Cailin, who plays attack for the Commodores, is entering her senior year. As a college freshman, she made the decision to step away to address her mental health. After eventually returning to campus and to the sport she loves, she wrote a powerful letter to college sports, demanding everyone involved be better at caring for the mental health of student athletes. During this episode, Cailin discusses her experience as a student athlete when the pandemic began, how a concussion affected her mental health, the importance of taking time off, being vulnerable and communicating with teammates and coaches, setting clear intentions as a student athlete, and the support she received throughout her mental health journey.