Mental Health in Athletes: Breaking stigma to Improvement in a 4-way guide
A generic perception of the public about their athletes is that they are much more “Energetic,” “Stronger,” and “Happier.”However, “The American College of Sports and Medicine” citation has revealed a shocking breakdown of about 35% of athletes indulged in depression, anxiety, and burnout. Contrary to the public view, athletes are always more prone to mental health issues and disorders, leading to a day-by-day increase in research examining their mental health. The following guide is a 4 step path leading to clarity in mind for readers willing to seek mental health improvement in athletes.
1) Identification of the Victim of Unwell Mental Health
The first and foremost process is the identification of mental disorders either by athletes or by teammates, coaches, or sports staff. A few plausible ways of identifying a mentally unwell athlete are
- A sudden change in mood or behavior
- Changes in diet pattern
- Sleeping pattern changes
- Social isolation
- Decreased graph of performance game by game
Although identification can be tricky at times, it’s necessary to educate the athlete from monthly or annual mental health programs to help overcome the fear of disclosing mental health problems and increase the likelihood of self-recovery.
2) Digging out the Causes of Disturbed Mental Health
In any mental disorder, the genuine cause is the main concern until it’s removed. In the case of athletes, the causes of mental disorders can be many; the most frequent are discussed here:
- Social pressure(including family and friends)
- Unrealistic goals
- Injuries
- Consistent lack of performance in the field
- Competition with other teammates and with other athletes ready to play instead
Along with these, other factors are generally overlooked. These are also responsible for making athletes depressed. The top two of them are:
- Trolling on social media due to bad performance in the field
- Breaking the expectations of frustrated fans
3) Helping Athletes Improve Their Mental Health
A combined effort made by the teammates, coaching staff, sporting environment, and health professionals can help athletes reduce their symptoms. A few of them are:
Meditation
A time spent with the body itself is worth it. Self-talk and meditation for at least 20 minutes a day can help the mind be relaxed.
Mental Screening
Proper mental screening helps identify the victim on the spot. Nowadays, BP checker smart watches, GPS vests, and other types of equipment are much helpful in regulating sleep patterns and heart rate.
Consulting Psychologist
A mental health professional is often the best practice in helping most athletes around the globe in coping up with their mental health issues
4) Mental Health Campaigns
Naomi Osaka, a seasoned Japanese tennis player, withdrew herself from the French Open after revealing she suffered from depression since 2018. Such examples and monthly or annual mental health literacy programs for the athletes and their families and training the coaching staff can help reduce cases significantly.
The invitation of senior athletes to such programs, addressing young athletes, and openly revealing their struggle with mental health can be a good initiative to cope with the problems in young athletes.
Takeaway
According to a report, depression and anxiety cases are 4% to 48% and 9% to 16%, respectively, more prevalent in athletes compared to the normal public. The mental health of athletes has always been less under discussion, and this article discusses every important aspect of it.
