By Madeline Condon, Community Marketing Impact Strategist, WEforum
More than 20% of youth aged 13 to 18 have experienced a severe mental illness at some point in their lives, and over 28 million adults with mental health conditions have not received any form of treatment. Among these adults, 28.2% report that they have attempted to seek care but could not access it. Statistics like these underscore the urgency of attending community-focused events, such as the one I recently attended hosted by WEforum along with the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide (SPTS), “What I Wish I Knew: Empowering Our Youth and Establishing Hope.” Events like this are essential for raising awareness and fostering resources that support mental health in our communities. When I was invited by Karen Campi to attend the event, I went with an open mind, ready to receive and learn as much as I possibly could, but I had no idea I would leave with such a sense of gratitude for the community surrounding me.
My name is Maddie Condon, and I am a recent graduate of Bryant University, where I was a member and captain of the university’s NCAA Division I swimming team. As the oldest of four siblings with three younger brothers, I was inspired by my father, who played professional baseball with the Anaheim Angels organization and NCAA Division I baseball for Seton Hall University. From an early age, I aspired to follow in his footsteps and compete at the highest level. When I was seven, my mother took me to a swim lesson at the Atlantic Club, and my instructor told her that rather than more lessons, I needed to join a team—and that was the beginning of my journey in competitive swimming.
Swimming has always been my sanctuary, whether it was at the beach or doing laps in the pool. I find peace in the water and the objective nature of the sport—where the clock never lies—is something I cherish. At ten, I remember watching the 2012 London Olympics and being captivated by athletes like Missy Franklin and Elizabeth Beisel. Their dedication and passion for the sport lit a fire in me, and from that moment, I committed to achieving my highest potential in swimming. Starting at age ten, I trained six days a week, for two hours a day, nearly year-round. Each year, I added more training to my schedule, preparing for the recruitment opportunities that come in junior year. As a driven and goal-oriented young athlete, this dedication came easily, but as I approached that pivotal year, I felt a different weight on my shoulders: the mounting pressure to succeed.
Arriving at college, I initially felt a sense of relief—I had reached my goal. However, that’s where the real work began. Every college athlete understands that time management becomes a new discipline, with hours of training, classes, and efforts to maintain a balanced social life. My collegiate swimming career began during the COVID-19 pandemic, which altered my freshman year experience significantly. We trained alone, paused whenever a teammate tested positive, and were tasked with meeting the high expectations of winning our fourth consecutive conference championship.
With these demands, school became more challenging than I ever imagined. I was adjusting to a new environment and devoting my energy to swimming without seeing the results I hoped for. I started to feel isolated and questioned whether the dream I had worked so hard for was worth it. My grades suffered, I found myself withdrawing from loved ones, and for the first time, I felt alone despite being surrounded by teammates and coaches who cared deeply for me. It seemed everyone around me was thriving, which only deepened my struggle. Because mental health challenges weren’t openly discussed on my team, I felt I couldn’t share my feelings with anyone. I pushed myself harder, to the point of burnout, until I could no longer hide my struggles. It was then that a friend and teammate reached out, offering a compassionate ear. She allowed me to share my feelings without judgment, and the next day, she walked me to the campus counseling office—something I hadn’t even known was available. I was surprised to see so many other athletes there, and it made me wonder why mental health resources weren’t prioritized in our training as much as physical conditioning. We prepare our bodies at the highest level—why not our minds?
From that point, I committed to prioritizing my mental health, and I experienced the difference it made. That year, my team went on to win our fourth straight conference championship, and I competed in my first conference finals, scoring points for my team. Although I felt some shame about my mental health journey, I knew I wasn’t alone; others had felt, or would feel, the same struggles. When we returned in the fall of my sophomore year, I made it my mission to ensure incoming freshmen felt supported and knew they could talk to me if needed. I began openly discussing mental health with my teammates, which created a space where others felt comfortable sharing as well. I eventually found myself guiding teammates to counseling, just as a teammate had done for me. Together, our team began to acknowledge that everyone’s path is different, and it’s okay to not be okay. As a result, the stigma surrounding mental health started to fade within our team, and the broader Bryant student-athlete community advocated for the inclusion of a sports psychologist on campus. The university responded, and we began meeting with a sports psychologist to strengthen our team and break down mental health barriers.
Attending events like WEforum’s community conversation on young mental health, co-hosted with The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide, is essential for the whole community, whether or not they have been directly affected by mental health challenges. Being able to support just one child struggling with mental health can change a life—and inspire them to help others. The panel of experts shared both professional and personal insights on what they wished they had known earlier surrounding the topic of youth mental health. Stacy Brief, a young adult voice and panelist, emphasized the importance of trusted adult connections:
For many young people, parents and caregivers are the most important, emotionally invested adults in their lives. This emotional connection is a protective factor. However, it is typical for teens to confide in other trusted adults who may play different roles in their support system. It’s not uncommon for caregivers to feel shame, self-blame, fear, and confusion about this; these emotions are often rooted in stigma. Caregivers may think, ‘I failed’ or ‘What did I do wrong?’ when, in fact, teens may be trying to protect them from witnessing the intensity of their pain. You always have a role to play, even if it isn’t as the primary listener.
Panelist Marli Gelfand, Assistant Vice President for Behavioral Health Services at Monmouth Medical Center, highlighted, “It’s never too early to seek advice or counsel when you’re not feeling yourself. There is often a stigma around feeling unwell, and it’s okay not to be okay.” She provided valuable advice, encouraging parents to engage in conversations with their children. Marli also stated, “Asking your child if they feel like they want to harm themselves or if they think the world would be better off without them will not plant harmful ideas in their mind. Helping your child express their feelings can provide relief and make them feel acknowledged.”
Each of us has a part to play, and it will take a collective effort to overcome the stigma surrounding mental health. I am grateful to be a part of a community who is actively working on achieving this goal.
Should you or someone you know need guidance, please consider the following resources:
- Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide www.sptsusa.org
- Parent & Caregiver Toolkit: Guide to Navigating Youth Behavioral Health www.sptstoolkit.org
Maddie Condon, a Manasquan, New Jersey native and recent graduate of Bryant University, is a driven marketing professional with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. At Bryant, she excelled both academically and athletically, serving as captain of the NCAA Division I swimming program. Her leadership, resilience, and commitment to excellence—both in and out of the pool—underscore her passion for teamwork and strategic thinking. Maddie brings a dynamic approach to marketing, eager to apply her skills and discipline to make a meaningful impact in her career.
