By Jeromy Corrigan

Mental Health

Athletes mental health more important than ever in 2020

Dec 3, 2020 | 4:08 PM

Over the course of the last 15-20 years, mental health recognition has changed and for athletes, whether they are taking to the gridiron, the pitch or on the ice, it has become easier for them to come forward and talk about how they are feeling.

Being an athlete isn’t easy.

Whether it is student athletes looking to balance both school work and sport, or athletes competing at the highest, they all face a number of stresses which young athletes deal with.

Over the years mental health has come to the forefront in sports becoming more and more okay to talk about.

“A lot of these issues we talk about these days we didn’t talk about 10-15 years ago,” shared Sports Psychologist Peter Soberlak.

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“For the most part the changes have come through awareness. The avenue for players and parents to speak up has grown.”

While sport psychology is gaining in traction, the stigma attached to the mental illness is predominant in the athlete world due to the emphasis on appearing physically and mentally fit.

The latter can perpetuate silent suffering and self-isolation.

So, what needs to change?

“We still really need to do some work at making it okay and an avenue for players to reach out,” added Soberlak.

“I think athletes and parents sometimes are a little wary of facing that, so I think that is where some more work needs to be done.”