MILWAUKEE — Back to school means back to sports for many students. While sports are meant to be enjoyed, being back on the grind can cause stress for many athletes, especially at the college level.

A study by the NCAA found rates of mental exhaustion, anxiety and depression among college athletes are double what they were before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The same study showed less than half of athletes surveyed expressed comfort in seeking support from a mental health provider on campus.

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is trying to alleviate some of that stress with the addition of two recovery rooms. UW-M received a Horizon League Mental Health grant to fund the recovery rooms. 

The two rooms include massage chairs, recliners, sound machines, aromatherapy and meditation lighting. The rooms also feature a Vitamin D light, which helps some people with seasonal depressoin. 

Additionally, there are plants, a stuffed animal, photos and painting to encourage relaxation. 

“All the science is really showing how you take care of yourself mentally is just as important as how you take care of yourself physically,” said Kathy Litzau, UW-M’s senior associate director. “We are really happy we can offer more resources for them, educate them on physical and mental wellness and provide the space for them to practice it.”

While the rooms are science-backed, they are also student-approved. 

“Even after just one week, I could see that I was just a lot more relaxed,” said Anna Lutz, a sophomore on the women’s basketball team. “I think I was in a better mental space because I was given this really great room to sit and take a breath in. They’re a great addition to the athletic department and I’m glad there’s this bigger conversation around mental health happening.”