Report by Ellyza Jane Guitierrez | Layout by Angel Chogyomon
Did you know that about 35% of professional athletes experience mental health concerns – this is according to reports presented in a study conducted in 2019 titled, Mental health in elite athletes: International Olympic Committee consensus statement.
Due to the nature of their work, having to devote most of their time and efforts to training and competing, athletes usually spare little to no reason tending to their mental needs. Regardless of their well-built physique and awe-inspiring performance in the sports rostrum, pro athletes do unobtrusively deal with physiological issues as well.
Driven by the urge to maintain a "desirable" physical appearance, athletes would go to extreme lengths – following strict diets and exercise regimens to control their weight, which leads to them developing eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. This unhealthy lifestyle is most likely a product of stereotypes associated with some sports where having a thin body is expected to perform much better. Another cause of mental health issues among athletes comes with the pressure they face regularly from expectations and the risks of injuries that may result in their early termination. Contrary to the common belief that athletes can't have depression because of their regular exercises that supposedly release mood-boosting endorphins, they can also be heavily affected by such circumstances, challenging them mentally.
Among the mental health concerns they experience also include substance misuse, sleeping problems, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and many others (McLean Hospital). Still, most signs and symptoms of the mentioned disorders usually go unnoticed, which only shows how an open and supportive environment is necessary, even in the sports setting, where athletes can feel safe to share about their personal hardships free of judgment and stigma.
Despite being physically more capable, they, too, have their own share of ups and downs and are just as vulnerable to the mental torments that life throws at us. Their susceptibility to these disorders should not be perceived as a sign of weakness but as an attestation that they are also normal human beings, and thus, athletes should be supported, validated, and provided with the backing they need to nurture their mental well-being just as they do with their physical health.
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