Abstract

This study critically examines how leadership practices within collegiate sport shape the mental health experiences of Black student-athletes, foregrounding the role of culturally responsive governance and structural accountability in advancing equity. The purpose of the review was to synthesise interdisciplinary scholarship and qualitative insights to identify leadership behaviours, organisational structures, and systemic strategies that promote psychological safety, trust, and well-being among this population. Anchored in an interpretivist and systems-oriented framework, the study employed a qualitative review methodology, integrating conceptual analysis, policy-oriented scholarship, and comparative organisational models to examine leadership through relational, structural, and strategic lenses.
The synthesis reveals that mental health outcomes are profoundly influenced by leadership cultures that either mitigate or amplify racialised stressors within predominantly white institutional environments. Key findings indicate that ethical and adaptive governance mechanisms, inclusive service design, preventive mental health monitoring, and participatory decision-making structures are central to fostering supportive climates. The review further underscores the necessity of aligning financial planning and institutional metrics with equity commitments to ensure sustainable mental health provision. Leadership that embeds transparency, data-informed accountability, and culturally competent engagement practices strengthens trust and enhances help-seeking behaviours among Black student-athletes.
The study concludes that transformative change in collegiate sport requires an integrated leadership model that situates mental health equity as a core institutional priority rather than an auxiliary concern. It recommends embedding measurable equity indicators into governance frameworks, allocating protected funding for culturally responsive services, implementing structured anti-racist leadership development programmes, and institutionalising athlete advisory councils. Future research should pursue longitudinal and multi-institutional studies to evaluate the enduring impact of such reforms.