By Iacovos Iacovides, APC Sports.
On the MSA blog last week, we discussed Naomi Osaka’s decision to withdraw from the French Open due to mental health. Mental health has often been overlooked or even repressed in sports, as it doesn’t fit the celebratory, electrifying environment typical in sports. Athletes are constantly under intense public scrutiny, working hard week in and week out on the field, while maintaining a public image for their fans. They also have to demonstrate their philanthropic side, even when facing personal struggles.
Problems related to athletes’ mental well-being rarely make headlines, which has its pros and cons. On one hand, it reduces stigma around mental health disorders, but on the other hand, it harms athletes in the long run by preventing any meaningful public conversation on how to address the issue. The nature of athletes’ daily routines and lifestyles are themselves enough to cause not just physical, but mental health problems.
Mental Health Disorders linked with an Individual’s relationship with Society
Some mental health disorders are linked to an individual’s relationship with society. Issues like isolation, loneliness, abuse, and childhood trauma can lead to mental health challenges, and social media only exacerbates them. Recently, English football players Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho, and Marcus Rashford missed penalty shots in the Euro 2020 final against Italy. Immediately afterward, they were viciously abused on social media. These players, aged 19, 21, and 23, endured a brutal online backlash.
Similar cases have occurred with other athletes, such as Alvaro Morata. He is a Spanish striker for Atletico Madrid currently on loan to Juventus. Morata and his family have even received death threats. Numerous athletes have faced online abuse, which has reportedly led to depression and anxiety in many cases, including Morata. This abuse can deeply affect an athlete’s mental well-being, adding unnecessary pressure to their already demanding lives.
Long -Term Stress
Moreover, long-term stress can contribute to mental health issues, and athletes’ lifestyles are often defined by high levels of stress and anxiety. Top athletes often compete almost year-round, for up to 11 months. While American sports have more breaks, European football is a different story. For example, in 2021, players in the English Premier League started their obligations in late August and ended in June or July with the European Championship. They were expected to return for preseason training in early August. This constant cycle can cause significant physical and mental exhaustion for athletes.
Mental Health Issues with Physical Health Problems
Mental health issues come in many forms, and like physical health problems, they can be life-threatening or less severe. As mentioned earlier, mental well-being depends on physical health as well. Mental health issues can range from common conditions like depression, which affected athletes like Michael Phelps, Amanda Beard, and Ricky Williams, to more severe and lethal conditions. Concussions and head injuries have been linked to deteriorating mental health in athletes, especially in violent sports like American football and professional wrestling. For example, former NFL player Phillip Adams went on a killing spree in April 2021, killing six people, including himself. His sister revealed that his mental health quickly deteriorated due to his NFL career.
Similarly, former WWE wrestler Chris Benoit killed his wife and son before taking his own life in 2007. An autopsy revealed extensive brain damage. These tragic events highlight the severe mental health struggles some athletes face due to the nature of their sports and the physical toll they endure.
While it’s impossible to cover every factor behind athletes’ mental health issues, many stem from their lifestyle and the pressures of the sports world. The first step in addressing these issues is for clubs and federations to institutionalize policies that encourage athletes to come forward with mental health struggles. They should treat mental health with the same seriousness as physical injuries. This will be helping to reduce stigma and provide support. This approach will improve both physical and mental well-being, boost athletes’ performance. Thus, hopefully prevent further tragedies in the future.
For more information about the factors that affect athletes’ mental well-being, you may contact us at [email protected] .