Creating a Positive Change

MENTAL WELL BEING

DiversitiCiti Athletic foundation understands that athletes are not immune to experiencing psychological distress and are as vulnerable to mental illness as non-athletes. Canadian athletes performing at elite levels may be at-risk of experiencing distress because of the various sport-specific and life stressors. Athletes in distress sometimes do not have access to qualified mental health resources and are faced with the negative stigma associated with asking for help. We believe here at the foundation that it starts with a conversation around the integration of mental health resources in the world of athletic performance. We are committed to developing a network of partners in this space to facilitate access to psychological resources for our athletes, their parents, coaches, and other part of their support system.

It is a fact, one in five people in Canada will experience a mental health issue in any given year and athletes are not immune to this statistic. Some may even argue that athletes are at higher risk due to the demands that come with competing at an elite level. One of the biggest hurdles for an athlete suffering from psychological stress is overcoming the stigma of “mental weakness”. Our Athletes need an environment that tackles traditional perceptions around mental health and supports their psychological well being.

Developed from the research of Jamie Bisset, a 2-time national champion in the sport of diving and Sports psychology researcher at the University of Toronto, here are 5 simple ways to help end the stigma and develop a positive culture around mental health for Canadian athletes. This resource helps key figures in the athlete’s support system increase their mental health literacy and enhance support seeking behaviours.

Stigma of Toughness

Mental Well Being

Awareness of the Distress

Coach-Athlete relationship

Backups and Captains are equal

The traditional sports culture places an emphasis on the demonstration of mental toughness. Because of this emphasis psychological distress is often perceived by athletes to be a sign of weakness which deters them from disclosing any issues.

What to do to help tackle the Stigma

Adopt more holistic philosophies that minimize the importance of performance and winning and prioritize the pursuit of balanced lifestyles.
Demonstrate focus on the athlete’s general wellbeing through the prioritization of such elements as recovery, nutrition, sleep, and mental well being.

Coaches and other key figures in the athlete’s support system need to assume a role in supporting the mental well being of their athletes. Their attitudes and expressed opinions towards psychological distress can greatly influence the likelihood of athletes coming forward and seeking help.

How to be a better role model

Use techniques such as positive role modeling -actively tending to your own mental well being and sharing with athletes how you do so. (i.e. Meditation)
Pay attention to the athlete’s language and avoid using discriminatory language that helps perpetuate the stigmas around distress and mental health (i.e. psychos, schizo, crazy etc.)
Create or facilitate access to diverse support staff (i.e., diverse in race, gender, age, sexuality, etc.), it increases the odds of that athlete finding someone they can connect with.

Until recently psychological distress has not been widely discussed in sport. This lack of awareness has acted as a barrier and resulted in Athletes struggling to recognize their own symptoms.

How to increase awareness

Speak openly with your athletes about mental well being using anecdotal stories or your own personal experiences.
Work with Athletes to develop their ability to self-reflect on their emotional states and address any sentiment that may be negatively impacting their well being.

The power dynamic between coach and athlete can act as a barrier for seeking help. Coaches determine starting line-ups and who will have the opportunity to compete. Athletes often fear disclosure because they worry coaches will perceive their performance abilities as being impaired by their psychological distress and lose their position in the team.

How to invest in the coach-Athlete relationship

Minimize power differentials between athletes and coaches by verbally communicating that in some instances help-seeking is necessary.
Assure athletes that their opportunity to compete or earn their position will never be affected by seeking help.
Make a conscious effort to respond positively when addressing any concerns brought to you by your athletes, your response is key to enhancing support seeking behaviours.

Power differential amongst teammates and the resulting hierarchy can also act as a barrier for seeking help. Athletes at the top of the hierarchy may face challenges disclosing distress because they worry that their reputation as team leaders will be tarnished. Alternatively, athletes at the lower end of the team’s hierarchy will also struggle with coming forward because they do not perceive themselves as valued members and do not want to draw the coach’s attention away from higher-ranking teammates.

How to address team hierarchies