In June 2023, Hannah Johnson logged into Instagram and created a new account.
Username: @live_yourtruth23, named after the mantra Johnson used to get back into playing form. Content: Educational and inspirational posts about mental health to encourage others.
“Living your truth means being your authentic self and showing your true self every day,” Johnson said.
The veteran midfielder, who has played in 11 games this season, is hoping to help the Wildcats win a second consecutive national title.
But Johnson, who started her Instagram account a month after the University of North Carolina won its first national title since 2012, was on the sidelines during last year’s blowout win over Boston University in Cary, North Carolina.
She left the program and took medical leave to improve her mental health.
“For a long time, I hesitated and ignored getting the help I needed because I just wanted to keep going,” Johnson said. “I wanted to graduate and I wanted to keep playing lacrosse, but it ultimately didn’t work out and it took a toll on my mental health.”
Johnson was expected to undergo intensive mental health treatment in the fall of 2022 and return in January 2023 when NU begins its 2023 season.
But that comeback attempt was unsuccessful, and Johnson spent even more time in the hospital on the advice of her coach, Kelly Amonte Hiller, who she said reassured her that no matter what, she still had a place in the Lake Show.
“What’s really great is that she never gave up on me,” Johnson said. “She never said, ‘You’re not good enough mentally, you can’t be on the team.’ She said, ‘Get help and come back better for the team and be a valuable part of this team.'”
A December 2023 survey of more than 23,000 student-athletes found that 44% of NCAA female athletes reported feeling overwhelmed and 35% felt mentally exhausted, but only 40% of female athletes said they felt comfortable talking to their coach about mental health issues.
The university offers services to athletes, including counseling and a sports psychologist in the psychological services department, which Johnson said she took advantage of. She said her teammates have also been supportive on her journey.
“It’s a topic that’s been talked about a lot more than it used to be,” Johnson said. “A lot of people are very open about their experiences with mental health. I think we’ve just created a culture where we’re able to share personal and vulnerable things with each other.”
Johnson, who will return to the University of North Carolina in 2024 and live her truth, logged significant minutes for the Cats in the NCAA Tournament, and teammates cheered as she posed with Amonte Hiller and athletic director Derrick Gragg on Senior Night.
For her contributions to the team, she was awarded the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, given to a player for their actions off the field.
“I’ve just enjoyed every single moment of it,” Johnson said of his senior season. “It’s just awesome being with my teammates every day and I’ve cherished every single moment.”
On Johnson’s senior night, March 30, the teammate who presented him with a commemorative plaque was sophomore goalkeeper Fran Argentieri.
Every time NU scores, without fail, Argentieri jogs along the sideline and high-fives all of his teammates, including the support staff and athletic trainers.
The sophomore, who plays behind star graduate student goalkeeper Molly LaLiberty, can be seen dancing and celebrating on the bench whenever the Cats are in the lead.
And she always has a smile on her face.
“Getting the bench going and getting everybody excited,” Argentieri said. “Being able to celebrate everything on the sideline, whether it’s a goal or a turnover … giving it my all is something I take a lot of pride in.”
Argentieri said he focuses on maintaining a positive attitude on and off the field, and that he reflects that in his work with The Hidden Opponent, a mental health nonprofit for which he serves as campus captain.
“My big goal is to make people feel heard and feel connected,” Argentieri said.
Argentieri, who served as campus captain this year, completed monthly trainings for learning and reflection, and she said she plans to use what she learned next year to spread mental health awareness across more NU athletic programs, not just lacrosse.
“As athletes, we have a rigorous schedule,” Argentieri said. “We go to class, we go to practice, we go to weight training, we do our homework. There’s just so much to do. I think if you’re not there mentally, it’s really hard to be there physically.”
Founded by former NCAA Division I volleyball player Victoria Brown, The Hidden Opponent provides mental health resources for student-athletes.
The Campus Captains program, which began in 2020, now includes more than 500 student-athlete ambassadors across all 50 states, said program administrator Kelsey Isman. The Campus Captains serve as an extension of The Hidden Opponent’s outreach efforts, fostering a culture of openness about mental health across their respective college campuses.
Argentieri said her team was proactive in creating this culture.
“Our team has been especially amazing at being open and vulnerable about their mental health and making sure people they know feel they can talk about it when they need to,” she said.
Johnson and Argentieri will go into their final game Sunday united as teammates and as mental health advocates. It doesn’t matter if they win or not — Johnson said the biggest lesson will be to cherish the connections they’ve made as a Cat.
“A lot of athletes’ mental health comes from tying their self-worth to their sport,” Johnson says, “but it’s more than just the sport. It’s more than just the athlete. For me, it’s been a journey.”
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