Editor's Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters, please call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 to connect with a trained counselor.

BOSTON, MA (NOVEMBER 30, 2025) --"It took me a while to realize that it's okay. I feel like there's a lot of societal pressure, especially during my growing-up years. You're taught to push through pain, through weakness; there are many times you feel like you can't. I credit a former teammate, who dealt with horrible performance anxiety. He was incredibly open about it during my freshman year, and it was very empowering to see him embrace that side of himself while also being open about it."

UMass Boston men's lacrosse senior defender Matt Laverty (Barnstable, Mass.) reflected on when he first realized that asking for mental and emotional support is normal, accepted, and necessary.

"He was never afraid to be his authentic self, even if it was a vulnerable side of him. It made me realize early on, 'Wow, this is normal, this is okay.'"


The pressure to perform, compete, and remain mentally tough has long defined collegiate athletics — often at the expense of emotional well-being. In honor of Men's Mental Health Month, UMass Boston baseball's Breon Parker (Springfield, Mass.), track & field's Alex Martins (Malden, Mass.), men's soccer's Ian Visnick (Beverly, Mass.), and men's lacrosse's Matt Laverty sat down to break that silence. They discussed the realities of stress, vulnerability, and stigma surrounding men's mental health. As suicide continues to claim thousands of lives each year, their words serve not only as reflection, but as a reminder: asking for help is not weakness — it is strength.

While everyone navigates their journey at their own pace, the group pointed to a shared reality: the transition from high school to college can be overwhelming, especially for student-athletes.

"At first coming here, being a student-athlete in college, it was a huge balance change, from high school to college." – Martins

The demands of collegiate sports extend far beyond the field. Between classes, practices, travel, games, lifting, and sometimes work or commuting, student-athletes juggle responsibilities that rarely pause. For many, the volume alone becomes a significant mental and physical load.

"Lots of people can underestimate how much of a juggling act it is between all the different facets of your life…we practice in the morning every day…you have to sleep well, maintain a consistent diet, stay academically

eligible to compete, train well, and you have to play in the games well. There's a lot you have to balance."
— 2025 Little East Conference Defensive Player of the Year Ian Visnick

He added that student-athletes must balance training, sleep, nutrition, academic eligibility, and performance — often without proper time to recover.

"I would say the volume is very, very high." Visnick continued. "The amount of games that we play is very high in a very short amount of time…you can't really practice in between games, you can only really recover and prepare."

Parker echoed that sentiment.

"What Ian said was a really good example. Nobody knows how much we have to juggle."

He expanded on the misconception many people have about student-athletes.

"Everyone has class… I feel like a lot of people just see us as athletes, but I feel like sometimes we're doing a whole circus act."

The message was clear:
This is not easy. It is mentally taxing.

The conversation later turned to daily habits — especially diet and nutrition — and their often-overlooked connection to mental well-being.

"I think it's a challenging experience for student-athletes who are coming to live by themselves for the first time in their lives and may not have developed culinary skills or good nutritional practices. You walk in after practice on a really long day, and a granola bar and a Twinkie are an easier option than making chicken and rice…" – Visnick

When the discussion shifted toward injury, an even deeper divide emerged. Physical injuries come with clear protocols and structured recovery. Mental struggles, however, often remain invisible, untreated, or misunderstood.

"When we get injured, we have a whole process, a return protocol…and if you notice something is off, you're shut down." – Martins

He contrasted this with how difficult it can be to identify internal struggles:

"I try to remain positive around everyone because you never know what the last straw for someone could be."

Laverty outlined how the men's lacrosse team addresses this within its culture.

"We try to be very communicative…Our coaches and captains are very understanding and supportive. They've said, 'If that's something you are dealing with, it's very real, it's very common, and it's normal. We want to help you, we want to find you the right support,' but it's just a very, very different process."

Parker then offered a baseball player's perspective, noting how mental health impacts performance over a long, demanding season.

"That's a grind in its own. We tell our guys, 'Stay the course'…there's going to be highs and lows. You don't ever want to get too high, or too low, so just stay the course, and trust the process."

Beyond the schedules, the pressure, and the expectations, their stories began to center on one powerful truth: seeking help isn't weakness — it's self-awareness in action.

For some, that realization came after seeing how unprocessed emotions spilled into other parts of their lives.

"I realized I had to be vulnerable when I started displacing my own problems on other people…When that happens, it tells me I should probably take care of myself first." – Visnick

Parker shared a similar experience:

"I started displacing my unhappiness on other people. That's when I was like, 'Okay, like, let me get back to who I am, and who I want to be. And that's when I started focusing more on my mental health, and more on how I treated others as well.'"

Laverty followed with a blunt truth:

"You shouldn't wait till rock bottom…The sooner you realize that, and the sooner you seek help, the faster things get easier."

Parker expanded on what that first step can look like:

"That's the first step, whether it be going up to UHS, or scheduling an appointment with Amy [Amy Baltzell, UMass Boston Sport and High Performance Mental Consultant] asking somebody about what resources we offer, or just opening up to a teammate or someone close to you…"

He emphasized:

"Whatever that first step may look like…that first step is definitely the hardest… the quicker you can do that, before you hit rock bottom, you'll be better off, and easier it'll be."

As the conversation came to a close, the group shared their most important advice for younger athletes entering collegiate athletics, and the habits they maintain to protect their well-being.

"Kind of like when you stretch to prevent injury…Take journaling, for example, you're just writing stuff down, but it's good to get that started early, as opposed to waiting until hitting rock bottom." – Parker

He continued:

"Also, show yourself some grace. A lot of the pressure we feel as athletes comes from outside, but it also feels like sometimes, you are the thoughts in your brain…Show yourself some grace. At the very least, it should help you calm down in the moment. But I promise you, at the end of the day, the world keeps spinning. So show kindness to yourself"

Laverty reinforced this mindset:

"Treat your mind like how you treat your body…whatever it could be for your mind that is going to help you perform mentally at your best. Whether it's journaling, going for a walk, or stretching, meditating…There are so many

tools you can use at your disposal to train your mental framework."

Some of the words the group used to describe their mental health journey included "self-reflective" and "serpentine."

"Some paths are very straightforward. Others are not so linear. Everyone has their own journey, and everyone is valid in their struggles." – Martins

In recognition of Men's Mental Health Month, let the experiences of these UMass Boston Beacons serve as a reminder: struggling is human. Suffering in silence is not.

Speak up. Seek help when you need it.

Struggling doesn't make you broken. It makes you human. And as these Beacons showed, vulnerability is not a liability — it's a form of courage.

For those between the ages of 15 and 24, the reality hits especially close. In 2022, over 6,000 individuals in that age group died by suicide. In 2023, suicide claimed more than 49,000 lives nationwide. These numbers matter
— but they do not define you.

Your story isn't over.
Your light still matters.
Talk. Reach out. Show up for someone.
Light the lantern — not just for yourself, but for those beside you.