Tip of the Month

Mental Health in Elite Athletes

Since the early 1980s, I proposed that sports programs incorporate mental wellness training as early as possible because there would be a tremendous increase in stress and anxiety-related issues when developmental athletes moved through toward elite status. However, most coaches and organizations ‘boohooed’ my vision as too negative towards their programs. I was correct, as numerous athletes, including Olympic icon Michael Phelps, came forward to lay bare their depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide – and indeed, innumerable suicides have occurred over the past ten years. The IOC provided 2019 a tool kit for mental well-being based on the shocking events. I came across this article posted by Pubmed/National Library of Medicine. It presents the research of a large group of authors. I am posting the Abstract written by this group of researchers.

Schloder has modified the article only for grammatical errors and language.

Abstract

Mental health symptoms and disorders are common among elite athletes and may have sport-related manifestations within this population and impair performance. Mental health cannot be separated from physical health, as evidenced by mental health symptoms and disorders increasing the risk of bodily injury and delaying subsequent recovery. There are no evidence or consensus-based guidelines for the diagnosis and management of mental health symptoms and disorders in elite athletes. Diagnosis must differentiate character traits particular to elite athletes from psychosocial maladaptations. Management strategies should address all contributors to mental health symptoms and consider biopsychosocial factors relevant to athletes to maximize benefits and minimize harm. Management must involve treating affected individual athletes and optimizing environments in which all elite athletes train and compete. To advance a more standardized, evidence-based approach to mental health symptoms and disorders in elite athletes, an International Olympic Committee Consensus Work Group critically evaluated the current state of science and provided recommendations.

References:

Note: Due to a lengthy list of authors, only the first few are cited, while the rest are listed as “et al.” The article can be found under the listed “doi” number below.

Reardon, C.L., Hainline, B., Miller-Aron, C., Baron, A., Baum, A.L., Bindra, A., Budgett, R. & et al. (2019). Mental health in elite athletes: International Olympic Committee consensus statement. Br. J Sports Med, 53(11), 667-699. June. National Library of Medicine. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubMed. doi: 10.1136/ bjsports-2019-100715.