The Importance of Mental Health in Sports
Most athletes are celebrated for their strengths and for their ability to entertain other in sporting events. However, one aspect of athletes that is often overlooked is mental health.
Sports at all age levels can be very demanding. Not only do they require physical strength, but they require time and energy, and can often cause pressure on oneself. The performance of athletes on the field can often times be affected if they are not doing good mentally off the field.
When working in sports, it's important to make sure your athletes have time to rest and reflect. It is also important that athletes still have a life outside of sports. Without a proper balance, athletes may not be getting the support they need.
Be Open: Not all athletes are struggling, but knowing how to be supportive and open if an athlete is struggling is key. Mental health is not something to be embarrassed by, instead it is something that should be embraced. Keeping this open mindset among teams and between employees can help create a more positive environment.
Create Supportive Culture: Openly discussing your mental health mission is not only beneficial for you athletes but also for your fans. Fans like knowing that each team cares about every athlete, and has resources for when players are in need. Mental Health is bigger than a sports team, and fans like knowing that.
Inspire: Athletes help pave the way for the next generation. By giving athletes a public space to be open about mental health, it encourages young individuals to do the same. When young athletes see their heroes talking about mental health, it fosters a culture where seeking support and taking care of mental well-being becomes normalized and celebrated.
Why is this important to PR professionals? Public relations helps shape the culture and resources within a company. Advocating for mental health support within sports can be a responsibility of public relations employees. Think about a team that you want to work for in the future. What could you do to make sure athletes and employees feel supported when it comes to mental health?
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