Dalton Myers | Mental health and sports

There is increased discussion on mental health in our society, which now cause us to reflect on its relationship with sports.

I am of the firm belief that there's a need to raise awareness about mental-health issues and sports. We see our athletes as superhuman, and people who should be happy about their craft, but what we must also understand is that elite athletes, whether in Jamaica or worldwide, are not immune to mental health issues.

While research on mental health and elite athletes is very limited, we do know that they face similar symptoms as non-athletes, and with the added pressure of competition and training can create mental wellness issues. The prevalence of mental disorders is greatest among younger people , especially those bet 16-34 years old. One of every four persons in that category is believed to have a mental disorder. That group in and of itself already captures most athletes who are either transitioning into or are already considered professional athletes. While it has so far proven difficult to isolate elite athletes in a research on mental-health issues, we can already deduce they too fall within the most prevalent group.

We do know that professional athletes suffer from mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders. Some of the reasons for mental disorders in athletes include pressure and expectations from friends, family, fans, sponsors or just personal expectations; injuries from competition and/or training; psychosocial stressors; or performance issues. There are also those athletes who are making a transition to a new space, athletic club, partner, coach, as well as the ones who are transitioning into retirement. These factors can all lead to any form of mental disorder, especially depression which is considered by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the most common mental disorder.

Athletes are constantly in high -intensity situations. We automatically expect them to be mentally strong at all times, not recognising that we can all have symptoms of some type of mental-health issue at some point in our lives, which have been triggered by stressors individuals may not be able to deal with. There are studies in the US of college athletes that found that approximately 19.2% of male and 25.6% of female student-athletes surveyed reported elevated symptoms of depression. While there is no similar study in Jamaica, we can assume that there are similar challenges due to the intensity of our sporting activities.

Support needed

Increasingly, more support is needed for athletes as oftentimes we are not aware of their struggles in balancing their personal life with sports. This can even cause some current and retired athletes to turn to substance abuse or suicide. We have seen cases of players committing suicide, including England and Great Britain Rugby Union player Terry Newton; former footballer Gary Speed. There are also athletes on the international scene who are now speaking out about their mental -health struggles.

There is no one-size-fit-all solution but raising awareness is critical, and can help more athletes speak out. However, I am cognisant of the many challenges such as:

Persons not seeking professional help or in a timely manner

Coaches, managers and support staff not being equipped to deal with athletes who may be showing signs of a mental disorder

- There is still stigma attached to mental illness

- Treatment can cause adverse performance which itself is already an issue.

Most athletes will tell you that they grew up in a space where athletes were seen as superheroes and role models.

Oftentimes any hint of mental health issues is seen as a sign of weakness. As a result, they suffer in silence and hope that 'the feelings' will go away, some endure failed performances, or some make the decision to leave the sport earlier than expected.

So while the research on athlete-related mental-health issues is limited, we do know that it is a challenge, especially at the elite levels.

The Ministry of Health in Jamaica has a unit dedicated to mental health, and there are several advocacy groups. So let's look out for the signs in those elite athletes we are close to and recommend help. We may be saving their lives.

- Dalton Myers is a sports consultant and administrator. Email feedback to daltonsmyers@gmail.com