More than absence of illness
Mental health includes how we cope, function, connect and experience life—not only whether a diagnosis exists.
Understand · start here
Mental health is part of health. Athletes are not an exception.
You do not need a diagnosis—or a crisis—to notice change, talk to someone or ask for support.
Wellbeing is not performance
Performance can look good while life feels difficult. Support should not depend on results falling first.
Conversation can come first
You can begin with what changed, what is harder and what you need help understanding.
Why sport is different
The environment matters too.
The IOC consensus statement treats athlete mental health as inseparable from physical health and calls for both individual care and healthier training and competition environments.
Things worth noticing
No single item proves a condition. Patterns, persistence, severity and impact are reasons to talk to a qualified person.
- Enjoyment or motivation changes
- Sleep, energy or recovery changes
- Withdrawal or isolation
- Fear, irritability or feeling flat
- Eating or body concerns
- Feeling unsafe or trapped
A simple way to begin
“I do not know exactly what this is, but I have noticed that ___ has changed, it is affecting ___, and I would like help figuring out the next step.”