​Being a professional athlete not only requires an incredible amount of physical strength, but also mental strength.Athletes must find a way to balance everything their jobs require with everything going on in their personal lives. The travel, diet discipline, being separated from loved ones, and the way they are treated by fans (both positively and negatively), among other things, are constant causes of stress that can’t be escaped.They also must learn how to handle both winning and losing, and have to worry that there will always be someone younger, cheaper, or possibly better, trying to take their spot.It’s a lot to deal with.Sometimes the physical requirements of the job cause an athlete to ignore his or her own mental health, and the results can be devastating.In an excerpt from the Peak newsletter by The Athletic, Elise Devlin writes about the best piece of mental advice given to 13 professional athletes across many different sports.Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ quarterback Baker Mayfield was one of the athletes to offer what he believes has been the best advice he has ever received.You’re Never AloneMayfield told Devlin that the best thing he has ever learned is that it is ok to ask for help. Sometimes people (not just athletes) let their pride get the best of them and unnecessarily face problems alone instead of asking for help.”Mayfield: I think asking for help is something that people feel ashamed of doing. But you have more people that care about you than you think. I’ve gone through things myself, and I’ve had teammates go through certain things, but you always have people in your corner.”It seems simple, but is something that many of us fail to take advantage of.Mayfield has gone through a lot in his NFL career. He went from being the top overall pick in 2018 by the Cleveland Browns to being completely discarded, despite his success, only four years later.His ugly divorce from the Browns, brought on by the team leaving him twisting in the wind as they pursued their ill-fated trade for Deshaun Watson, sent Mayfield’s career on a downward spiral.Mayfield spent the 2022 season between the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams as an afterthought whose time in the league, at least as a starter, looked to be nearing an end.A player without strong mental health could have easily broken. Mayfield didn’t.Even when the Bucs gave him an opportunity to revive his career, it was only on a one-year contract for a small fraction of what starting QBs in the NFL make. He had to prove himself all over again.Which he did. Mayfield threw for over 4,000 yards, 28 touchdowns, only 10 interceptions, and made his first Pro Bowl.Final ThoughtsMayfield had to use the advice he was given to make it through all of the drama from his Cleveland exit. He relied on others for the help he needed to overcome the challenges he was facing and now has the life experiences to help those around him who also need help.Tampa is fortunate to have a quarterback as mentally stro