March Madness reached its pinnacle Monday with the men's championship game and Sunday with the women's. But with all the hoopla has come pressure far beyond the court. A public service announcement was aired during tournament games. It says one in three college athletes have experienced harassment related to bets. Student athletes are also often exposed to abuse on social media – as was the case with the University of Colorado’s Travis Hunter following his Heisman Trophy win.
According to the NCAA, up to 44 percent of student-athletes report experiencing challenges with mental health on a daily basis. Recently, the University of Colorado hosted a conference on the topic.
One panel focused on ways to support athletes facing mental health challenges. It was moderated by Matt Mishkind, deputy director of the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center at CU’s Anschutz Medical Campus. Participants included Erin Rubenking, a therapist and former official in the CU athletic department, Taylor Stuemky, an Associate Athletic Director with the University of Wyoming, Jess Kirby, an Assistant Professor at CU Colorado Springs and Rich Bennett, Associate Athletic Director for Sports Performance and Wellness at Colorado College.
