(By Warren J. Collins ’27, staff writer)
A new club connected to an organization focused on recognizing the mental health of student-athletes has come to LVC.
The club, an accredited non-profit organization called “The Hidden Opponent,” was started by Lyla Arfanella, a sophomore volleyball player, who has been long inspired by the organization’s founder, Victoria Browne. Like Browne, Arfanella wanted to create a comforting place for student-athletes.
“The Hidden Opponent (THO) prioritizes the mental health of student-athletes and allows them to create a community that makes them feel allowed and accepted to struggle with and discuss their mental health,” she said.
Arfanella was also motivated to start the club when she noticed both her high school and college teammates walking away from volleyball following mental health struggles.
“Because of that, I wanted to create a viable resource for student-athletes to ensure they can keep playing the sport they love,” Arfanella said.
To date, THO has attracted 200 followers on Instagram, and monthly meetings are currently being planned. The organization hopes to build awareness of its mission to the campus community and will do so by having various mental health recognitions at sporting events throughout the academic year.
On Thursday, Oct. 10, corresponding with World Mental Health Awareness Day, THO will have a table set up with information in the Allen W. Mund College Center. Students are invited to stop by to find out how they can get involved and make a difference to stop the stigma surrounding mental health.