Why top athletes are speaking up about their mental health
Professional athletes are vulnerable to mental illnesses and here’s why
Text: Shannon T
The conversation on mental health in professional sports has taken a huge turn this year, and for the better.
In June, we saw four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka withdrawing from the French Open, and later in July, it was confirmed that six-time Olympic medallist Simone Biles was opting out of floor exercise finals in Tokyo 2020. Calls for recognising mental health issues in the elite sports realm has never been louder. While some critics have expressed disapproval of their choice, it’s heartening to see that the vast majority is ready for this long-overdue conversation, with both Osaka and Biles receiving strong support from fans, fellow athletes, celebrities and even sponsors.
Delving into professional sports players and their mental health struggles within the elite sports industry, we break down why it’s important to speak up, what we can learn from their mental health journeys and why speaking to someone about mental health issues is important.
Why professional athletes are vulnerable to mental health issues
Although prized athletes get to bask in the fruits of their labour, bagging medals and snagging million-dollar brand deals, the price tag to step on the pedestal is just as huge. Underneath the glitz and glamour, mental health problems plague the professional sports scene. Athletes for Hope, a non-profit organization working with professional athletes, estimates that 35% of pro athletes struggle with mental health problems, ranging from eating disorders and burnout to depression and anxiety.
Their vulnerability to developing mental health issues is largely due to the following:
Stress and bodily strain from frequent competitions
High expectations from family, coaches, teammates and the athletes themselves
Constant pressure to appear as “perfect” role models at all times
“Hidden” head injuries from contact sports making them susceptible
Deteriorating performance, aging and eventual retirement = leaves them vulnerable to development of mental health problems
Young athletes are at bigger risks of mental health problems
Athletes often make their debuts at international games at a tender age, to maximise their careers and making the most out of their prime years (between 20 to 30 years old). It’s not uncommon to see extremely young athletes competing at elite sports before reaching adulthood. Japan’s Kokona Hiraki, 12, became the youngest gold medallist in 85 years at the recent Olympic games in Tokyo. China’s new Olympic diving sensation Quan Hongchan turned 14 just four months before the Games this year, where she delivered three perfect-10 dives in 10m platform diving final.
Teen athletes are exposed to a highly competitive and stressful environment that not all of them may be ready for. The results-driven nature of elite sports risks having young athletes equating their athletic ability to self-worth and forming perfectionist personalities that leads to extra stress, anxiety, burnout and depression.
Constance Lien became world champion at the World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championships at the tender age of 19. She later shared that she “didn't know how to handle the expectations and the thought of what people would now see me as, and that really affected me mentally” after struggling to live up to high expectations.
The social stigma of mental illness
Despite mental health problems being a critical issue in elite sports, few athletes are willing to speak out on their struggles. The social stigma tied to mental illnesses leaves a stain on the “perfect” image that top sportsmen are often expected to uphold. This is especially so for players at the top of their careers.
“Mental health has a stigma that is tied into weakness and is absolutely the antithesis of what athletes want to portray”, said Dr. Thelma Dye Holmes, executive director of the Northside Center for Child Development, one of New York’s oldest mental health agencies. When you’re competing on the highest level of any sport, appearing weak is the last thing you would want to do.
It’s time to speak up
The social stigma tied to mental illness is also what makes Osaka’s and Biles’ decisions particularly significant, creating an uproar and capturing media attention around the world. As athletic superstars and top players in their respective sports, they are key opinion leaders who created a ripple effect that could change the mental health conversation amongst professional athletes forever, with the potential to effect change in other professions as well. Besides Osaka and Biles, other top athletes have also shared about their own mental health journeys at different occasions, on their social media platforms or during press conferences.
As every new generation of professional athletes continue to challenge the limits of the human body and to make new records, the stress and pressures of elite sports will remain. But for young hopefuls who are following the paths of their predecessors, stories of their struggles will no longer have to be silenced, because the world is finally ready to listen.
If you are experiencing distress, anxiety or struggling with a mental health concern, try speaking up about it with someone you trust. Learn to identify early signs of hopelessness and depression, find a support system that works for you, and don’t be afraid to seek help from a mental health professional.
