Student-athletes are expected to be physically and emotionally ready at all times. Training, classes, and competitions leave little room for breaks, and even less space to speak up when adversities become overwhelming.
Beyond the battles they face on the court, the pressure to perform their best in every single game often leaves them burying their struggles, keeping their anxieties locked away so no one can see beyond the facade of a strong athlete.
Misunderstood
Often renowned for their physical attributes, athletes face unseen challenges that cut across their performances on the court. Alongside fulfilling the role of a high-performance athlete, they also deal with mental health barriers that clash with the public’s idea of what an athlete is and should be. This disconnect creates an environment where vulnerability is mistaken for weakness, compelling athletes to suppress their struggles to maintain an image of strength and resilience. As a result, mental health is often deprioritized or ignored entirely
As BJ Villarin (II, AB-OSDM) of the DLSU Lady Archers puts it, “ I think [the] expectation to be tough has affected us, especially athletes who have hidden mental health issues. We don’t really talk about it. ” Villarin’s insights on student-athlete mental health challenges align heavily with the sentiments of other players.
These thoughts were echoed by Lady Tanker Shayne Lugay (III, FIN), stating, “People expect us to be tough because of maybe our identity or title. I’d say there are times that it’s very hard for us or it’s quite challenging for us to open up, especially to our peers and coaches when we’re not that close.” Lugay also mentioned the stigma that surrounds student-athletes, where they are perceived as pabaya or negligent and only focus on the sport they play.
Together, these testimonies reveal a shared reality across disciplines: the “tough athlete” label often strips student-athletes of the space to be human. When their mental struggles are minimized or dismissed, they are left to navigate pressure, expectations, and identity conflicts in silence.
Behind the toughness
The expectation to always have a strong mindset often hinders student-athletes from opening up during moments of difficulties. Balancing intense training and packed schedules usually results in anxiety, burnout and self-doubt. Even a single negative comment can linger and follow them into classes and everyday life.
Athletes do not just hide their emotions from spectators, but from their own teams as well. Villarin shared that the assumption has prevented her from asking for help. From being a rookie who transitioned from high school to college basketball, she experienced intense anxiety before games, explaining that the pressure hindered her from reaching out until her coach noticed something was wrong. That moment reinforced the importance of team culture, as she was reassured to stop pressuring herself, clear her mind, and trust their team.
Lugay recalls a similar struggle after sustaining an injury, when public comparisons to her former self took a toll on her confidence. “People compared me to who I used to be,” she emphasizes that such comments were “very draining,” reminding spectators that an athlete’s value exceeds medals, times, and championships.
Finding strength in struggle
The disparity of public perception and lived experience is not lost on the athletes themselves. Unprovoked comments from onlookers who only get to see the highlights and scoreboards rarely witness the academic pressure and moments of self-doubt that happen outside the arena. Villarin adds, “It gets in their head. They carry them into classes, into everyday life.”
Aware that not every hateful comment can be silenced, student-athletes continue to advocate for stronger mental health support. Lugay elaborates on this, stating, “There should be mental health check-ins, meetings with coaches, peers, counsellors, and even the university admin, so that we’ll all have an environment where everyone’s really taken care of and a healthy environment which is a safe space for all of us.”
Kindness and a strong support system should not be luxuries for student-athletes. To be seen and supported beyond their performance, in both career-defining games and performance slumps, is what keeps them showing up for the Green-and-White banner. The pride that both fans and students celebrate stems from the athletes who deserve to be given room to struggle without being reduced to it.
This article was published in The LaSallian‘s January 2026 issue. To read more, visit bit.ly/TLSJan2026.
