For many student-athletes, the pressure to perform on the field takes focus away from life off of it. Morgan’s Message aims to change this trend by bringing mental health back to the front lines. The Ocean Lakes chapter of Morgan’s Message is led by junior Anna Orchard-Hays and sophomore Breahna Martin.
“I remember attending a Morgan’s Message game at Kellam and Cox High Schools which brought this organization to my attention,” Anna said. “Learning about who Morgan is and was really touched me and inspired me to want to start this at Ocean Lakes. I had been thinking about starting this club for almost a year, and when I heard that Breahna was also interested, I knew it was time that we finally took action.”
Morgan’s Message is a nonprofit organization created in remembrance of Morgan Rodgers, a former Duke University lacrosse player. After a season-ending knee injury in Jan. 2017, Morgan struggled with a loss of self-worth that prompted a battle with anxiety and depression. Consequently, Morgan lost her life to suicide on July 11, 2019, at the age of 22. Her story exemplifies a critical challenge in athletics: while she appeared strong, happy and resilient to others, she was actually suffering in silence.
“When hearing about Morgan’s story, I hope that athletes will grasp an understanding of how dangerous mental health is when left alone,” Breahna said. “I hope that they know there are outlets like Morgan’s Message for them to go plug into.”
The program’s main missions are to remove the shame around mental health within high school and collegiate student-athlete communities, equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics, normalize conversations in safe spaces and empower those who suffer in silence.
“Having this club at Ocean Lakes will definitely make athletes feel more confident walking onto the field or court,” sophomore Carmen Smith said. “I also feel that through Morgan’s Message athletes will be able to let go and have more fun rather than beating themselves up and not looking forward to games or practices.”
Morgan’s Message meetings consist of a presentation sourced from a website called TadHealth where they get access to informative lessons by being ambassadors. To build support for mental wellness, they follow each presentation with a creative activity, such as coloring or crafting.
“Our dream is to have dedicated Morgan’s Message games across every sport at Ocean Lakes,” club sponsor Coach Christine Thorton said. “These events aren’t just about sports; they’re a visible promise to our athletes that we are a family. We want to show that whether it’s a championship or a personal crisis, we support each other.”
Morgan’s Message dedication games are athletic events hosted by the school to raise awareness about Morgan’s story and student-athlete mental health. These games include a moment of silence for Morgan, wearing teal ribbons and merchandise and pregame speeches. They aim to create an atmosphere that allows teams to play for Morgan and advocate for mental health resources.
“I hope that students learn that mental health is something everyone has regardless of if you are thriving or not,” Anna said. “I want to build a community at Ocean Lakes where we have a safe space to educate others on the topic and provide a comfortable space for students to feel loved and accepted.”
