Stay away from phone, social media: Donaldson's advice to athletes battling depression

As someone who has battled suicidal thoughts, veteran basketball player James Donaldson knows a thing or two about depression faced by sports persons across the globe.

The 62-year-old English-American, who played 14 seasons in the NBA and several leagues across Europe, has advised the sportspersons dealing with mental health issues to stay away from cell phones and social media.

From multiple Olympic gold medallist swimmers Ian Thorpe and Michael Phelps to cricketers such as England's Andrew Flintoff and Marcus Trescothick, sportspersons from across the world have battled depression.

Star Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell had recently joined that list of athletes when he decided to take a break on mental grounds.

"Sports is one of those occupations where there is a lot of stressand expectations. Players have this pressure of performing at the highest level, it can become too much," said the 7-foot-2 Donaldson on the sidelines of an event organised by Sukarya, a women-centric NGO.

"We live in an age where so much of our lives are on social media platform, so we hear criticism more than ever before, from fans and all these negativity becomes too much after a while.

"Even taking a lot of positivity becomes an unrealistic bubble where you put yourself in, you think how greater you are. So you need to balance it out, you need to keep it in proper perspective. You need a healthy life style, a family to come back to."
"So, my advice to all players is to have a proper balance in life, have a refuge where you can get away from, shut your phone sometimes, shut social media sometimes, be with real people who will be with you in both good and bad times."