Student-athletes are tasked with demanding schedules and often face pressures from their desire to excel academically and athletically. A group of Lebanon Valley College student-athletes are working to break the mental health stigma in athletics and support their peers through LVC's new chapter of The Hidden Opponent (THO). 
 
The Hidden Opponent is a non-profit and advocacy group that raises awareness for student-athlete mental health and addresses the stigma within sports culture. Lyla Arfanella, a sophomore defensive specialist for the LVC Volleyball team, applied to THO's campus captain program in July and worked with Lebanon Valley's Department of Athletics to begin the College's chapter at the start of the academic year. 
 
"The Hidden Opponent at LVC creates a support system of athletes where we can talk openly about our mental challenges," Arfanella said. "We can address the stigma behind mental health and work together to educate, advocate, and support each other. All LVC athletes are on one team, and prioritizing our mental health will allow us to compete at the high level we strive to achieve."
 
Arfanella is the chapter's President and Campus Captain. The chapter's board also includes sophomore Women's Soccer defender Gabby Cinicola as the Vice President, sophomore Women's Basketball guard Alexa Holcomb as the Secretary, and first-year Volleyball middle hitter Breanne Rotz as the Treasurer. The club has around 70 members and meets once a month to discuss and educate members on topics such as performance anxiety and eating disorders.
 
"The group gives every athlete a place to go with the stresses of sports and feel comfortable talking about what they are going through," said Ryan Fink, junior Dutchmen Football cornerback and THO member. "It is not easy for most collegiate athletes to talk about their battle with mental health because they think they must 'toughen up,' so having a group they can go to is an excellent resource for all LVC Student-Athletes."
 
The board leads the group's efforts to make Dutchmen student-athletes aware of the mental health resources available to them. This includes some shared through The Hidden Opponent, which reminds athletes how to care for themselves mentally. The club also makes student-athletes aware of what is available on campus. This information is often shared through the group's Instagram account, @THO_LVC. 
 
"I believe the resources that we have available to student-athletes will allow them to have more knowledge about the counseling services at LVC, the coaches who are here to support them, and self-care options that can help with improving their mental health," said Elizabeth Morgan, a sophomore Dutchmen Women's Lacrosse attacker and THO member.
 
The chapter also hosts activities and events, including when the group chalked the walkway toward the Arnold Sports Center on World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10. They also placed encouraging notes on the lockers of fall athletes for World Mental Health Day. Additionally, at the Spirit Zone during Homecoming, students could visit The Hidden Opponent table to make bracelets, enjoy de-stress coloring, and check out an interactive information board. 
 
"Being a collegiate athlete comes with huge adjustments and added pressure, so our athletes must have an outlet," Cinicola said. "Creating a sense of belonging and overall support can improve our athletic community here at LVC, as many athletes may be experiencing similar struggles."
 
Lebanon Valley's chapter wants to keep expanding and aims to have a representative of each team engaged with the club. THO also plans to host Mental Health Awareness games to bring attention to the cause.
 
"It gives me so much pride to bring such an amazing organization into our community," Arfanella said. "The support from our campus has been so incredible, and I am grateful that others see the importance of athlete mental health."

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