Original Article Part 1
Abstract
Young High Performance athletes face unique mental health challenges due to the extremely high pressure, significant stress and overall demands of their sport. They face the same challenges as the pros, yet their brains are still developing and they haven’t developed the coping mechanisms and strategies to overcome the level of stress they are under.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics 70 percent of young athletes quit their sport by the age of 13 due to burnout, confidence issues, performance issues or injuries from over training. By the time an athlete comes to me they are usually in a crisis situation. To be proactive in serving the sports community, I have written this paper to equip those who work in the industry with the key signs of mental health issues (specific to athletes) in order to facilitate the necessary support, before it becomes a crisis or life threatening situation.
Some of the most significant challenges Coaches face are they don’t have the time to check in with all of their players, they aren’t sure what to look for when it comes to being proactive about an athlete’s mental health and sometimes they don’t feel comfortable asking players personal questions, because they feel they are crossing a line. There is also the factor that unless there is a change in an athlete’s performance, they are unsure of what to look for beyond that.
There can sometimes be a lack of communication between parties as well. One of the most common issues Parents struggle with is the lack of resources specifically designed for young elite athletes. Sports psychology and talk therapy are very slow processes, only scratch the surface and mostly only deal with the conscious mind.
This white paper has been written to support Coaches, Parents and Agents of young athletes to recognize early signs of distress in their athletes and provide them with the most effective support. We discuss common mental health issues, trauma-related symptoms, and proactive interventions to promote athletes’ well-being.
References : https://www.facebook.com/groups/158783775422784/posts/1159255685375583/