March Madness: Mental Health Pressures in Collegiate Sports

March Madness is here, and it’s an exciting time for basketball fans, but for the athletes on the court, it brings immense mental pressures. While the physical demands of preparing for high-stakes competitions are often acknowledged but the mental pressures can sometimes be overlooked. Collegiate athletes consume a significant amount of social media and therefore are exposed to the immense scrutiny that it can come with the heightened attention.

According to a recent study, one in three high-profile collegiate athletes receive abusive online messages, with female athletes facing three times more online threats than their male counterparts. Kiki Rice, a college basketball player for the UCLA Bruins, and Chance Gray, a college basketball player for the Ohio State Buckeyes, agree with the findings of the study. They recently shared their perspectives in a live Q&A discussion.

Rice highlighted how online harassment usually comes after game performances. “Oftentimes, after games, depending on how we do, I’ll get DM messages talking about like, ‘you didn’t hit my parlay,’ like random sports betting things, and that’s obviously not what I’m focused on when I’m playing out there on the court—but I do think those things add up.” Gray echoed this, emphasizing the never-ending expectations placed on athletes. “A lot of Instagram DMs just saying basically you didn’t play up to par—and I think having that expectation on our shoulders does weigh on us after a while.”

The mental pressures faced by athletes do not just include social media. There is also a constant need to balance academics with training schedules, all while maintaining peak performance in every area of life. “It’s not easy to handle on your own, but the resources are there,” Rice emphasized, referring to initiatives like BetterHelp’s Stop the Madness campaign, which is providing a month of free therapy for student-athletes. Gray talked about the need to break the stigma. “I just want people to be comfortable being vulnerable with their mental health, because a lot of people are afraid to say what they’re really going through—but resources are all around us during this time.”

The mental stressors don’t disappear after games because for many athletes, social media has become a double-edged sword: It's a necessary mechanism for self-promotion, but it’s also a platform for criticism. Asked how they manage digital consumption, Rice said, “I try my best not to even look at it and all the messages because I know it’s not a good use of time—it’s someone typing behind the keyboard that I really don’t care about their opinion.” Gray also takes a similar approach: “I kind of just look at it and detach, using it as motivation to get in the gym. I have a really good support circle, so if I’m feeling down, I lean on my teammates, my family, and my coaches.”

Fans as well as the larger sports community can play a role in improving the environment for athletes, Rice suggested: “When you’re going to be online talking about that kind of stuff, be positive. That’s the most important thing—just making sure you’re paying attention to what you say and how you’re saying it as a slight change in wording can really change the perceived message.”

As March Madness kicks off, it’s important to reflect on what’s really going on behind the scenes for these athletes and to consider how, as a fan, you can contribute to a healthier environment. Supporting athlete mental health should be as high of a priority as their on-court performance, because after all, high performance is only sustainable when people feel mentally and physically well.