Mental Health
Maintaining a Positive Mental Health
13% of the global population experience some form of mental health disorder.
Athletes are not immune to mental health challenges, such as burnout, distress, anxiety, depression, unhealthy eating patterns, insomnia and alcohol or drug misuse.
Many different factors can impact athlete mental wellness and are all associated with mental health symptoms:
Injury
Performance pressures
Dealing with failure and/or success, and
Career transition out of sport
See below an evidence-based sport science and medicine guidance for developing athletes to maintain a positive mental health.
Guide to staying #MentallyFit
https://www.olympics.com/athlete365/articles/mental-health/expert-guide-to-staying-mentally-fit
Tips to help athletes stay positive
IOC Mental Health in Elite Athletes Toolkit
This toolkit is intended to equip stakeholders with the knowledge and guidance to protect and promote while providing resources to benefit elite athletes’ mental health and well-being.
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Content Guide
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Introduction
Mental Health Symptoms and Disorders
Mental Health Symptoms and Disorders Prevalence
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Roles & Responsibilities
This section outlines the roles and responsibilities of the key stakeholder groups related to the creation of a psychologically supportive athletic environment. These stakeholder groups are: athlete's entourage, coaches, sports organizations, and health professionals.
Athletes' Entourage
Coaches
IOC Train-the-Trainers Program on Mental Health Essentials:
Athlete-Coach Communication on Stigmatized Health Topics
Sports Organizations
Health Professionals
Resources
The final section of the toolkit highlights available resources and where to find further information.
IOC Sport Mental Health Recognition Tool
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Sport Mental Health Recognition Tool 1 (SMHRT-1) can be used by athletes, coaches, family members and all other members of the athlete’s entourage to recognise mental health problems, but not to diagnose them. The SMHRT-1 presents a list of athlete experiences (thoughts, feelings, behaviours, physical changes) that could be indicative of mental health problems.
How the IOC Sport Mental Health Recognition Tool can help you: https://www.olympics.com/athlete365/articles/mental-health/how-the-ioc-sport-mental-health-recognition-tool-can-help-you
IOC Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool 1 (SMHAT-1) is a standardised assessment tool aiming to identify, at an early stage, elite athletes (defined as professional, Olympic, Paralympic and collegiate level; 16 and older) potentially at risk for, or already experiencing, mental health symptoms and disorders, in order to facilitate timely referral of those in need of adequate support and/or treatment.
Versions into multiple languages can be found: https://www.olympics.com/athlete365/articles/mental-health/sports-mental-health-recognition-tool-1
Anxiety - Coping Strategies
How to help your athletes through uncertainty
Combatting the anxiety of the unknown
https://www.olympics.com/athlete365/articles/mental-health/combatting-the-anxiety-of-the-unknown
Train yourself to cope with loss
https://www.olympics.com/athlete365/articles/mentally-fit/train-yourself-to-cope-with-loss
12 ways to deal with the unexpected
https://www.olympics.com/athlete365/articles/mentally-fit/12-ways-to-deal-with-the-unexpected
Athlete Mental Health Support
24/7 Mental Health Support for Athletes at the Winter Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026: Starting from 20 January 2026
The Mentally Fit Helpline
https://www.olympics.com/athlete365/articles/mental-health/access-the-mentally-fit-helpline
Building a Support Network
https://www.olympics.com/athlete365/articles/performance/building-a-support-network
Mindfullness
Four mindfulness exercises to improve your mental well-being
Free mindfulness app subscription
https://www.olympics.com/athlete365/offers/mental-health/free-mindfulness-app-subscription
Sleep-Related Problems - Strategies for Better Sleep
Healthy sleep equals a healthy mind
https://www.olympics.com/athlete365/articles/mental-health/healthy-sleep-equals-a-healthy-mind
Is athlete sleep different?
https://www.olympics.com/athlete365/articles/sleep/is-athlete-sleep-different
5 steps to getting a great night’s sleep
https://www.olympics.com/athlete365/articles/mental-health/5-steps-to-getting-a-great-nights-sleep
How to create good sleeping habits
https://www.olympics.com/athlete365/articles/mental-health/how-to-create-good-sleeping-habits
Entourage: Healthy sleep equals a healthy mind
https://www.olympics.com/athlete365/articles/mental-health/help-your-athletes-gain-healthy-sleep
Understanding and minimising jet lag
https://www.olympics.com/athlete365/articles/mental-health/understanding-and-minimising-jet-lag
Testimonial: How high-quality sleep can improve your life
Astrid Jacobsen (former cross-country skier):
Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders: What You Need to Know
Understanding the Basics and What We Can Do About It
Eating disorders in female athletes
Recommendations and nutritional considerations for female athletes
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport and the use of assessment tools
Athletes
Coaches
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport: Best Practices for Coaches
Video of the Webinar: 14.05: Dr. David Bailey & Vanessa Zoras – Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport – best practice for coaches
Transitioning Out of the Sport
How to manage your transition out of sport
IOC Athlete365 Courses
How to prioritise your mental well-being with Athlete365
Mindful Social Media
https://www.olympics.com/athlete365/learning/mindful-social-media