Athlete Wellness beyond Physical Injuries
Athlete health and wellness are often paid attention to when athletes undergo physical injuries during sport. We often think of broken bones, concussions, and torn ligaments. Although these injuries are important and make headlines, there are many parts of athlete wellness behind the scenes. For example, mental health plays a significant role in not only performance, but overall wellness.
Professional and collegiate athletes are always being looked at under a microscope. They are constantly under an intense amount of pressure. They are critiqued when they win or lose, and there is always someone who has something negative to say about the athlete. The expectations of fans, media, coaches, and owners can create a large mental toll on athletes. It is not uncommon for athletes in today’s world to experience anxiety and depression. These struggles are not as covered in the media, which is why athlete wellness needs to take a shift.
Many people have put the idea into athletes that they need to be mentally tough in all areas of sport. They need to push through injuries and never show weakness to the public. Resilience is important in sport, but this is where it is taken too far. Resilience does not matter if the athlete is ignoring that they need help behind the scenes. The stigma around mental health and the expectations of athletes often keeps these individuals silent around their mental health struggles.
Although the expectations and pressure around athletes have created a fearful space where mental health is not talked about, there is a new era of awareness that has begun to change the stigma. High-profile athlete, Simone Biles, opened up about her struggle with mental health. Simone Biles struggled immensely with her mental health, experiencing the twisties during the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, and decided to withdraw from the competition. Simone Biles shocked the world, but made a statement to show that mental health should come before even the biggest of sports stages.
As well as professional athletes speaking up about the importance of mental health, teams have also begun to prioritize the mental well-being of their athletes. Many teams and leagues offer counseling services and mental health professionals as part of their training staff. After hearing the voices of athletes around mental health, teams have been able to recognize that mental well-being is a key component in sport and is necessary for the success of the team as a whole.
Mental health is necessary for success for a variety of reasons. Confidence and motivation are essential for athletic performance. These characteristics come from our brain and our psychological stability. When an athlete is under an immense amount of stress and is not mentally stable, their performance declines and injuries are more likely to occur. In comparison, athletes who work on their mental health and make it a priority in their lives tend to perform better and have a smaller chance of getting injured. Athletes who maintain good mental health are better able to handle challenges and setbacks in competition.
