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Shelby Swartz ’26 Shines a Light on Student-Athlete Mental Health

by Brittany Stroop

DURING THE PANDEMIC, Shelby Swartz ’26 realized just how valuable athletics were to her.

“Sports were my outlet and a time to escape everyday stressors,” the women’s volleyball player said. “When that was taken away from me, I was lost and not in a good mental state.”

Then, she found The Hidden Opponent (THO).

A fully accredited, nonprofit advocacy group, THO is dedicated to raising awareness for student-athlete mental health. What began as a concept from founder Victoria Browne’s TEDx Talk on student-athlete mental health in 2017 has grown into a national organization helping to end the stigma surrounding mental health in sports. As of early 2024, THO has more than 900 student ambassadors on 750+ college campuses in all 50 states and a few international locations.

“I originally found out about THO through Browne’s Instagram during my junior year of high school,” explained Swartz. “I saw her post, then watched her TEDx Talk and continued researching the organization. At the time, they did not have a high school program, so I had to wait until college to become a Campus Captain.”

Campus Captains are student ambassadors who bring THO’s mental health awareness and initiatives to athletic departments. Swartz became Hartwick’s first Campus Captain this past fall. In October, she worked with the Hawks’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, for which she serves as vice president, to combine their annual Ronald McDonald House pop-tab collection fundraiser with a mental health awareness initiative.

“Many people came to our table and asked questions,” remarked Swartz. “It made me really proud to represent the group and spread more awareness about athlete mental health.

The timing of the event was ideal as well, with several teams entering post-season play.

Shelby Swartz '26

“While this is a huge accomplishment and an exciting time for athletes and their teams, it is also when burnout is high. Being an advocate and voice on campus supporting athletes helps them know that they are not alone.”

Shelby Swartz ’26

Psychology and Biology, Double Major

Hartwick College student in the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs Sports Diplomacy Division at volleyball tournament talking with other students and volleyball players

Hartwick student Shelby Swartz ’26 leads a group of female Thai students in some volleyball exercises during their trip to campus.

Shelby Swartz '26 about to hit volleyball

Swartz received another valuable experience in October, when she was invited to speak to a group of volleyball coaches from Thailand who visited Hartwick as a part of PH International’s Sport for Social Change program. A few months later, Swartz was chosen to travel to Thailand to reconnect with those coaches and see how they had implemented some of the strategies she introduced at Hartwick. Through interactions with several Thai organizations, she also gained new insights and tools to advocate better.

“The people we met in October and on the trip are truly incredible and have had an impact on my life in a short amount of time,” Swartz said. “All of the stories and what the organizations have created to start change in their communities and focus on the development of the entire person were moving and inspiring. I can’t wait to bring what we learned to the Hartwick campus!”

Swartz’s passion for mental health awareness and support goes beyond athletics. She is double majoring in psychology and biology, and a peer counselor with HEART, a confidential resource for Hartwick students to talk one-on-one in a safe environment.

“I believe that being a Campus Captain for THO has helped me become a better counselor and advocate for my peers, thanks to the additional training and workshops they offer,” she added.

She plans to continue advocating for student-athlete mental health throughout her collegiate career and beyond. Her goal is to earn a doctorate in physical therapy, so that she can help people recover physically and mentally — a challenge she watched firsthand in her own family.

“When my Dad broke his ankle a few years ago, he would go to his appointments and they would always ask ‘How’s the ankle?’ and never ‘How are you?’” Swartz reflected. “The emphasis was strictly on getting his ankle better, but not him as a whole. I saw his mental state take a turn because he couldn’t do the things he enjoyed due to his injury. True recovery includes a huge mental component, and I want to bring light to that.”

The Together, We Soar campaign is expected to conclude in fall 2026. To learn more about the campaign and to participate, visit hartwick.edu/togetherwesoar.

Hartwick College Together, We Soar Campaign Logo

June 12, 2024
From The Wick Magazine, Wick Mag Spring 24

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