In Lawrence, KU Athletes Struggle to Balance Mental Health with Pressure to Perform.

More Than Just the Game: KU Athletes Battle Mental Health in High-Pressure Environments

By: Karla Lessing 

Lawrence, Kansas 

When Ellie Howe, a Division I swimmer at the University of Kansas, injured her shoulder during her sophomore year, the physical pain was only a fraction of the struggle. The feeling of falling behind in every aspect of life became unbearable. 

As mental health awareness grows on college campuses, KU student athletes face another level of challenges. The unique and extreme pressure from performance expectations, academic excellence, and maintaining a social life results in mental health consequences for many student-athletes. Although KU Athletics offers extensive mental health services, many student-athletes still struggle with stigma, access, and the emotional toll of trying to do it all. 

For many KU athletes, the challenge starts with the mindset. Howe, now a senior, said perfectionism is not just a personality trait but essential to the culture. 

“As a D1 athlete, I felt pressure to be perfect in every area—athletics, academics, relationships. Which just isn't realistic,” Howe said. “That mindset really messed with my mental health, especially after setbacks like mental ruts or injuries.” 

Kristie Baumchen, a licensed therapist employed in KU Athletics through Kansas Team Health, sees this often. “Athletes don’t just strive for perfection, they expect it,” she said. “That leads to high anxiety, stress, and depression.”

Howe described her college experience as a constant balancing act. Early on, she was hyper-focused on swimming. With everything she did, swimming was at the back of her mind. This led her to let her social life fade away. Of course, she saw her teammates at practices, but outside of practice, she was worried about recovery or that hanging out with friends would be too tiring. 

“I eventually learned it was overtaking my life,” she said, “Swimming was a huge part of my life, but it wasn't my all of it.” 

Baumchen dove deeper into this statement made by Howe. 

“They're constantly moving, and when they finally slow down, everything they've been pushing aside starts to catch up. They don’t always know how to check in with themselves.”

According to Baumchen, mental health services have significantly expanded in recent years. What was once a single provider has grown into a team of three therapists, integrated KU Athletics trainers, and strength staff. With this expansion, student-athletes complete an annual mental health screening and follow-ups as needed. 

“Each of the therapists in KU Athletics is embedded with specific teams,” Baumchen said. “That visibility matters. The more we are around the athletes, the more normal it becomes to ask for help.” 

Howe agreed and placed a high emphasis on how the accessibility of therapists made a huge difference. “I used Kristie for all four years. She made therapy feel like a conversation, not a chore.” 

However, barriers remain. “There is still a stigma, especially among younger athletes,” Baumchen said. “They might prefer talking to their peers instead of professionals, even if their peers aren't equipped to help.”  

Baumchen believes there are still changes to be made in the mental health services at KU Athletics. “We often design services based on what we think will help, but every team is different,” she said. “We need the student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC) to give us feedback to shape better support systems.” 

Graduation brings another stress level to student-athletes like Howe. Once athletes leave KU's support, continuing their care becomes harder to maintain. The KU Athletics medical staff provides an exit document and refers students to other providers. However, insurance and location can complicate the process. 

“If you have an injury, you can still get services paid for by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) up to two years, that has not trickled down with mental health,” Baumchen said. 

At KU, the conversation around mental health in athletics is growing. What once were whispers behind closed doors are now open discussions in locker rooms, training facilities, and Wagnon, the student-athlete center. For athletes like Ellie Howe, that change is more than welcome. 

Interviewees contact information: 

Kristie Baumchen Director of Mental Health Servcies 
Email: kbaumchen@ku.edu 

Phone: 864-4721

Ellie Howe: 

Email: elliottgracehowe@gmail.com 

Phone: 801-635-0301