'Hidden Opponent' Club At Howell High School Tackles Mental Health

HOWELL, NJ — For student athletes, the visible opponent in a sports competition is one an athlete can prepare for.

But then there is the "hidden opponent," which a Howell High School club is taking just as seriously.

According to the Freehold Regional School District, student-athletes at Howell High School now have an additional outlet for discussions related to mental health in The Hidden Opponent - an organization that encourages discussions about mental health issues.

According to its website, “The Hidden Opponent is an accredited nonprofit organization and advocacy group that raises awareness for student-athlete mental health and addresses the stigma within sports culture.”

Started by a former collegiate student-athlete, the organization helps to ensure student-athletes have a space to recognize and bring awareness to “the hidden opponent,” meaning mental health in athletes.

In contrast, the visible opponent is the one the athlete is facing across the net, field, or court.

Several colleges and high schools have clubs and chapters of The Hidden Opponent to openly combat the stigma around mental health in athletics and create meaningful conversations and change.

Tara Rempel, Howell’s school psychologist and volunteer assistant coach of the girl’s volleyball team, recognized a need within the school building.

“Although I am new to Freehold Regional High School District/Howell High School, I have quickly come to the realization that when we see a need, we fill it. If students can benefit, we find a way," she said in comments to the regional district news website.

She said she saw more athletes dropping into see her. So she thought of the idea of forming a chapter of The Hidden Opponent at Howell High School.

She added that in her own experience, “Seeing the mental health conversation grow from being a high school athlete at Red Bank Catholic, to a collegiate athlete, to experiencing a taste of being a college coach at Lehigh, to now being in the school full-time in my different capacities, helps me to facilitate a productive conversation around this topic.”

Recognizing the world has gone through - and is still going through - a collective trauma from COVID, the conversation around social-emotional learning/growth is only intensifying.

For high school athletes, several missed sports seasons and their high school experience was different than what they anticipated - which can cause stress.

The Hidden Opponent has three main goals:

• Advocate: All student-athletes should be able to speak openly about their mental health experiences without worrying about being judged or viewed as weak. This club can help amplify the voices and needs of student-athletes.
• Educate: Bring light to the many issues and struggles, raising awareness to break the stigma of mental health in athletic culture.
• Support: Provide a safe space for all student-athletes to feel heard and supported.

Starting in early November, the club at Howell has since grown. Student-athletes from cheerleading, dance, football, baseball, volleyball, soccer and outside club sports have joined. Each week, the attendance increases, Rempel said.

During the group’s first official meeting, students brainstormed what the club should “look” like, she said.

The result includes a mixture of both discussions of real-world athletes and athletics and mental health, as well as problem-solving and support.

For example, the group discussed professional athletes that have recently publicly discussed their mental health.

So student-athletes will discuss the stress of the role and benefit from having "a room full of others who understand, validate and support – which ensures no one feels alone in their struggles," the school said.

The group recently brainstormed in the new iLab, writing on the tables different ideas about how to de-stress after practice/games. Students got ideas from each other and realized they could problem-solve and work through the stress and different anxieties instead of sitting with them.

Rempel said the club members are currently brainstorming the possibility of holding events to raise awareness about student-athletes' mental health.