Doctor discusses protecting athletes’ mental health from the risks of social media

Recently, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy wrote an op-ed in the New York Times sounding the alarm about the impact social media is having on the mental health of our youth.

Athletes of all ages and abilities are at risk for mental illness. To better understand the impact of social media on athletes’ mental well-being, we interviewed Marcia “Marcy” Faustin, a family physician and sports medicine physician at UC Davis.

Faustin is the co-chief physician for UC Davis Division 1 track and field and the U.S. gymnastics team. She has cared for star athletes such as Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee and is headed to the Summer Olympics in Paris this month. Faustin also trains at the UC Davis Health Sports Medicine Clinic in Sacramento.

What do you advise athletes to do regarding the use of social media around competitions?

I look after athletes at all levels, from recreational sports to the young 4-5 year olds, all the way up to the collegiate level and then the Olympic level. My message across the board is to be aware of how much time you spend on social media. For example, before you have a competition, it might not be the best idea to hear so many opinions from people about what could go wrong.

We advise them to really focus on their community and the people that they trust. They can talk to them about their fears and their worries, their concerns about the competition that are legitimate. One strategy that we try to implement is to encourage athletes, even at the Olympic level, to take time to process their experience before they go on social media.

Who do athletes turn to when they receive negative comments online or are the victims of targeted actions?

They go to their trusted sources first and foremost. This may be their parents, teammates who understand what they’re going through, and coaches who they spend most of their time with. They also come to their medical staff, their athletic trainer, or whoever that trusted person may be. Sometimes, if there’s a need to escalate and someone needs to know how to stop cyberbullying, we can voice those concerns.

How can sports physicians help athletes cope with the pressures of traditional media and social media?

First of all, it is important for sports medicine professionals to understand the significant impact that both traditional and social media can have on athletes. These athletes are under a lot of pressure, especially those with more visibility. Unfortunately, people are not always so kind.

We need to be aware of the negative consequences so that we can help our patients with them.

Do you see athletes on social media being biased based on gender and race?

There are many biases, whether it be racial and ethnic, sexual orientation, or gender bias, to name a few. For example, individuals from minority backgrounds experience bias both in their daily lives and on social media.

We know that women are forced to live up to this ideal of how their bodies should look, which can be even more pronounced in certain sports. But we can’t forget that men also face similar pressures to look a certain way.

How can athletes protect themselves from the pressure and negativity of social media and traditional media?

Athletes need to be aware of how much social media they are absorbing and how it can affect their emotions. It is important to set limits on how much time they spend on social media and at what time of day. They need to ensure that their social media use does not interfere with their daily activities and self-care.

There are times when athletes are required to attend press conferences. Managers, coaches and the medical team play a role in reminding athletes that they can decline questions or, if possible, choose to decline interviews.

We’ve seen athletes in various sports talking about their mental health. Does it encourage people, especially athletes, to seek help when a celebrity says they’re struggling or pulling out of a competition?

Vulnerability is powerful. It takes courage, self-awareness, and a willingness to put yourself out there to help those around you feel less isolated. We’ve seen it in the NBA, NFL, Olympic sports, and professional tennis, to name a few. When an athlete of that magnitude says, “It’s okay to not be okay,” it opens the door for others to do the same, which is beautiful. These stories are helping to break the stigma of mental illness. Progress is being made to destigmatize mental illness.

Is there anything from a health care perspective that you would like journalists to know or be aware of when interviewing these athletes?

Reporters play an important role in sharing an athlete’s story and influencing the public’s perspective on that athlete. Encouraging training in areas such as diversity, equity and inclusion, or trauma can create a psychologically safer environment for athletes. In collaboration with sports medicine professionals, we have proposed a few considerations to improve media-athlete interactions.

You are already in the Olympics with the team. How do you feel about that?

I recently returned from an exciting and thrilling US Gymnastics Women’s and Men’s Olympic trials. We are now in Paris preparing for the Olympics.

It’s exciting to be back for a second Olympics and to support these incredible athletes who inspire the world with their talent in and out of the gym. It’s an honor and a blessing to be a part of Team U.S. Less than 2% of physicians are Black women, so if I can inspire even one person to pursue a career in medicine, I’d call that a success.