Mental health struggles and suicide rates in athletic populations have been on the rise for the past two decades, with an even bigger increase since the pandemic. Disorders such as stress, depression, and anxiety have been the main causes for these struggles and fatalities. The growing rates of mental health disorders and suicide within this population indicate that athletes do not have the adequate resources to restore and improve their mental health. In some instances of presenting their troubles to coaches, staff, or teammates, their only advice is to seek help with on-campus resources or resources at home. Although this can be sound advice in some cases, this can also create the sense that there is no escape from what may be the cause of these mental obstacles.
The purpose of this thesis is to create a mental health retreat for collegiate, professional, olympic, and retired athletes. Tucked away at the edge of Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C., in between existing amenities such as the Carter Barron Amphitheatre and the William Fitzgerald Tennis Center, the retreat allows for the continual use of existing amenities along with other resources and practices provided on-site. This retreat aims to provide spaces and resources at a location that teams or individuals can visit to allow for healing and education about these mental health disorders. This serene space in the middle of a chaotic big city will provide space for resting, performing, healing, and overall restoring which begins to break the barriers between what can be overcome in the feelings that may seem indomitable. / Master of Architecture / Mental health struggles and rising suicide rates among athletes have become increasingly concerning over the past two decades, with a significant spike since the pandemic. Stress, depression, and anxiety are the primary issues affecting this population, and current resources appear inadequate to address their needs. Often, athletes are advised to seek help from on-campus or home resources, which may not always be effective and can sometimes exacerbate feelings of entrapment.
This thesis proposes the creation of a mental health retreat for collegiate, professional, Olympic, and retired athletes. Located at the edge of Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C., near amenities like the Carter Barron Amphitheatre and the William Fitzgerald Tennis Center, this retreat offers a peaceful environment for healing and education. By utilizing existing amenities and providing additional on-site resources and practices, the retreat aims to support athletes in their mental health journeys. This serene space in the heart of a bustling city will offer opportunities for rest, performance, healing, and overall restoration, helping athletes overcome mental health challenges.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/119280 |
| Date | 04 June 2024 |
| Creators | Villegas, Arianna Rosario |
| Contributors | Architecture, Piedmont-Palladino, Susan C., Emmons, Paul F., Mars, Randall A. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf, application/pdf |
| Rights | Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
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