Nothing is as captivating as the sheer athleticism required to compete at the highest level.

Athletes are masters of their craft and appear superhuman. In these moments, it is difficult to see them for what they really are – human.

The book Mind Game explores how the perception of athletes as perfect or invincible can impact players’ mental health. Mind Game gives readers a glimpse into the historical and current landscape of sports psychology. Julie Kliegman, a freelance journalist who has worked for Sports Illustrated and The Ringer, interviewed several high-profile Olympians, professional athletes, and coaches on her journey to find out how athletes get through difficult mental health circumstances.

Kliegman will host a book talk and signing at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill on August 27 at 5:30 p.m. and her book is available for order.

The proximity of her event to Duke and North Carolina fits the story: Kliegman’s book addresses the challenges student-athletes face as they juggle grueling training and demanding coursework, often without access to mental health care. Kliegman cites her own experiences with sports and mental illness as the inspiration for “Mind Game.”

“I was a high school athlete … I ran cross country and track, and I also started dealing with mental illness during my high school years,” Kliegman said. “The older I got, the more I noticed that athletes at much higher levels than I ever managed were willing to talk about these things.”

Through writing, Kliegman has been able to make athletes’ stories more widely known and raise awareness for more accessible mental health care in sports. When asked about the availability of mental health resources for college players, Kliegman acknowledged that there have been significant improvements in the past decade. The number of mental health professionals available on college campuses is steadily increasing, and student-athletes are more open than ever about the mental aspect of sports.

“I think it’s important to recognize steps like this while also putting pressure on the NCAA to do more. And more importantly, we need to listen to athletes and tell them how they want to put pressure on the NCAA to do more,” Kliegman said.

Coaches, trainers and managers can also make it normal to ask for help, rather than portraying mental illness as a “sign of weakness.” Kliegman suggests, “Perhaps the coach wants to share their own experiences and just remind people that there are people who can help if needed.”

Some of that work is already being done at Duke, thanks to the dedication of former and current athletes and coaches. Joanne Palombo-McCallie, head coach of Duke’s women’s basketball team from 2007 to 2020, is a vocal advocate for mental health in sports. In her book, Secret Warrior, McCallie recounts being advised to stay quiet about her struggle with bipolar disorder so as not to impact players. Just as athletes should be able to seek help, coaches should also feel comfortable speaking up when they need support.

UNCUT Duke is a student group on campus and one of many chapters across the country that provides a platform for student-athletes to tell their own stories, which often include struggles with mental illness. UNCUT also provides student-athletes with an opportunity to showcase their lives outside of sports, such as their passions and involvement on campus. These athlete-led initiatives are an integral part of the mental health in sports movement, as they both raise awareness of the issue and hold institutions accountable for their inaction.

“We have to give the athletes credit for stepping up … and generally being willing to stand up for themselves and each other,” Kliegman said. “They don’t really owe that to anyone, but it’s really impressive to see.”

From fans to athletes to officials, everyone has a part to play in advancing mental health in sport. As Kliegman writes in Mind Game, the solution is not as simple as giving players more resources for their mental health. Addressing this issue requires providing financial support to athletes, promoting mental health among coaches, and introducing sport psychology at a younger age.

Improving athletes’ mental health starts not only with learning more about sports psychology, but also with applying mindfulness to everyday life. Everyone struggles with mental health issues at some point in their lives – no one should have to suffer in silence, believes Kliegman.

“I want people to continue to voice their opinions and recognize that while we are not starting a discussion, we are certainly deepening it,” Kliegman said.

After her appearance in Chapel Hill, Kliegman will spend a week exploring the archives at Duke University to research her next book. “Finding Renée” looks at the life of Renée Richards, a transgender tennis player who sued the U.S. Tennis Association to assert her right to compete in the 1976 U.S. Open. Kliegman is the recipient of the Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library’s Harry H. Harkins Traveling Fellowship in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History. She will view a collection of documents from feminist activist and writer Eleanor Foa Dienstag, which were gifted to the library between 2014 and 2015. The collection includes notes, photographs and interviews from Dienstag’s unfinished biography, which Kliegman hopes to use for her next project.