Molly Joseph knows she isn’t alone when it comes to struggling with mental health, and South Carolina’s senior cross-country runner put her best foot forward in the hopes that others know it, too. Joseph, who has struggled with an eating disorder and depression, made several hundred green ribbons, which is the international symbol for mental health awareness, and asked her fellow student-athletes at all of the Southeastern Conference schools if they would like to wear them at the conference meet that was held on October 28 in Oxford, Mississippi.
“I just want to help others and let them know that you’re not alone in this,” said Joseph, who was diagnosed with a binge-eating disorder, depression, and bulimia just prior to starting college. “One of my biggest goals this year was to qualify with my team for the SEC Championship. That’s been a dream of mine, and I made it. This year’s meet fell on the anniversary date that I hit rock bottom (two years before).
“I am someone who struggled with an eating disorder and recently came out of it where I could compete. Now I’m in a place where I really want to help others. I had the resources to help me here at South Carolina, and I used them. I’m very fortunate to go to a university that puts so much emphasis on it. I realize how far I have come.”
Joseph had recently become involved as an ambassador with the nonprofit organization The Hidden Opponent, which advocates for student-athlete mental health. She is also co-chair of the Mental Health Committee within South Carolina’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
“I’m a part of these group meetings with student-athletes who, like me, have struggled and are current and past student-athletes from across the country,” said Joseph, who noted the group meets virtually on a monthly basis. “As a ‘campus captain’ for The Hidden Opponent, I have to do one event, project, social media post or something like that each month to raise awareness.”
Joseph thought that a simple gesture of wearing a green ribbon on uniforms can go a long way, so on the day of the SEC Championship, she walked from tent to tent of each of the teams prior to the race and simply asked if they would consider wearing them.
“I ordered 400 green ribbons with little pins on them and made little bags for every men’s and women’s team,” said Joseph, who is studying public health with a minor in business. “My goal was to really focus on the women’s teams and…