Mental health in the Sporting World
9th August 2021
Written by Flo Bishop
As the 2020 Olympics has drawn to a close this blog will reflect on the role of psychology within the Olympic games. Mental health and the wellbeing of competitors has become a prominent issue in these Olympic games due to the media attention focused on Simone Biles and other athletes speaking out about their mental health. In addition to this the different atmosphere at these games was noticeable from watching them on television so must have been especially pronounced for the athletes competing. There were no spectators and many COVID-19 safety measures in place.
Mental health issues among elite athletes is not a new phenomenon, instead what is different is the number of athletes publicly talking about their struggles. A paper published in 2019, systematically reviewing previous studies, reported that the prevalence of mental health difficulties in elite athletes reflects that of the general population (Gouttebarge et al., 2019). With 34% of active athletes and 26% of former athletes reporting anxiety or depressive symptoms.
Simone Biles, the four-time Olympic gold medallist withdrew from five events in the 2020 Olympic games citing her “mental health”.
“We have to protect our mind and our body, rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do” -Biles, 2021
Her initial withdrawal happened on the day of the all-around women’s team final after she had already completed one vault. The remaining three members of her team completed the rest of the final with Bile’s support from the side-lines, with the team winning a silver medal. After withdrawing from four other events, Biles later went on to compete in the balance beam final earning herself a bronze medal.
While the majority of media articles around her withdrawal are supportive and positive there are still a number of individuals who have been critical. These comments have included suggestions that her mental health was used as an excuse for a subpar performance. However, the enormous amount of expectation and pressure placed on top athletes, including Biles, needs to be acknowledged. Competing at the Olympics is an incredible achievement especially achieving a bronze medal. Whilst the Olympic games are inherently a competition, and will be judged on the medals awarded, one athlete’s achievements should not diminish the accomplishments of another.
An announcement has been made by Adam Peaty, a British Swimmer and holder of three Olympic gold medals who declared following the completion of his events that he would be taking time off from the pool to prioritise his mental health. Following his announcement, he expressed his dismay on twitter to some of the negative responses he received: “Reading some of the comments in response to this is why we have such a stigma around mental wellbeing in sport”.
While there is growing public support and many reporters writing in support of public figures acknowledging their mental health struggles there are still many who criticize these athletes. A 2020 study investigated public opinion towards athletes acknowledging their struggles (Merz et al., 2020). The researchers found that public opinion of a hypothetical athlete with mental health concerns was lower than an individual without these difficulties showing that the stigma around mental health issues is still a significant issue that may prevent athletes from seeking the help they need. This is especially important for a public figure since part of their income is based around sponsorships, which in turn are highly influenced by public opinion.
The actions of Biles and Peaty follow those of Naomi Osaka, a Japanese tennis player’s, revelation that she would not speak at press conferences at the 2021 French Open. She was fined and later withdrew from the tournament to protect her mental health from the media scrutiny she would face. She later stated that she was placed under pressure to divulge her personal reasons for withdrawing from her press obligations to both the tournament officials and the press, something that would not be accepted in other professions. Osaka also divulged that she suffered from depression and experienced anxiety when speaking with the media.
This brings up the issue of privacy for athletes around their physical and mental health. While it is incredibly brave and courageous for athletes to speak publicly and bring awareness to their mental health difficulties, should they be forced to disclose such information to the public? There is an expectation that athletes need to account for any absence from training or a competition. This could place athletes such as Naomi Osaka in a position where they are forced to disclose their mental health issues. Without a statement it can lead to further scrutiny and speculation (Elsey et al., 2020). But should athletes be pressured into talking?
It is an incredibly significant moment in world sport when a high profile athletic admits publicly to their struggles. It is important that when an athlete reveals their struggles with their mental health they are met with warmth, kindness and support from the sporting community and public and not condemnation or questions about their sincerity. Hopefully, statements from high profile athletes like Biles, Peaty and Osaka will further destigmatise the conversation about mental health within elite sports. Their actions further highlight the need to support athletics when they stand up for their mental wellbeing alongside their physical health.
The importance of mental health with athletes is not limited to the competitions and preparation before-hand; athletes also face unique challenges after a competition, whether they win or lose (Howells & Lucassen, 2018). Athletes are under intense media scrutiny and pressure, gaining a celebrity status. After winning a medal at the Olympics they may feel on top of the world, but this feeling does not last – at some point they lose public attention and must return to the reality of a normal life. Their competition may not have ended favourably in which case after four years of training and anticipation there may be feelings of guilt and loss associated with retuning home. Either way it is important that the public and press are kind and supportive to athletes and do not place undue pressure upon them. Over half (52%) of elite athletes report mental health problems at some point in their life (Akesdotter et al., 2020). Remember to treat others with kindness and compassion especially online as we never know what someone else is facing privately.
For more information about mental health difficulties please see the charity Mind’s website or if you feel like you need support here are some useful contacts:
Samaritans Telephone: 116 123
The Samaritans are free to call and open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for confidential support.
Mind Telephone: 0300 123 3393
Mind’s Infoline provides information and signposting about mental health problems and where to get help. They are open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays).
References:
- Åkesdotter, C., Kenttä, G., Eloranta, S., & Franck, J. (2020). The prevalence of mental health problems in elite athletes. Journal of science and medicine in sport, 23(4), 329-335.
- Elsey, C., Winter, P., Litchfield, S. J., Ogweno, S., & Southwood, J. (2020). Professional sport and initial mental health public disclosure narratives. Communication & Sport, 2167479520977312.
- Gouttebarge, V., Castaldelli-Maia, J. M., Gorczynski, P., Hainline, B., Hitchcock, M. E., Kerkhoffs, G. M., … & Reardon, C. L. (2019). Occurrence of mental health symptoms and disorders in current and former elite athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 53(11), 700-706.
- Howells, K., & Lucassen, M. (2018). ‘Post-Olympic blues’–The diminution of celebrity in Olympic athletes. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 37, 67-78.
- Merz, Z. C., Perry, J. E., Brauer, A. H., Montgomery, T. L., Shulze, J., & Ross, M. J. (2020). The cost of mental illness: The public’s derogation of athletes with psychological distress. Stigma and Health, 5(4), 442–450.
- Naomi Osaka (2021). Naomi Osaka: ‘It’s O.K. Not to Be O.K.’ Retrieved August 8 from https://time.com/6077128/naomi-osaka-essay-tokyo-olympics/
- PA Media (2021). Adam Peaty dismayed by reaction since announcing break from pool to prioritise his mental health. Retrieved August 8, 2021 from https://www.skysports.com/olympics/news/15234/12370476/adam-peaty-dismayed-by-reaction-since-announcing-break-from-pool-to-prioritise-his-mental-health
- Rowbottom, M. (2021). Osaka and Biles issuing in a new era where “listening to your mind” is as important as “listening to your body”. Retrieved August 8, 2021 from https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1111028/osaka-biles-mental-health-athletes