NEWS Fitness and Nutrition News New Study Sheds Light on Mental Health of Elite Athletes By Nicole Rodriguez, RDN, NASM-CPT Nicole Rodriguez, RDN, NASM-CPT Nicole Rodriguez, registered dietitian and certified personal trainer, resides in the metro New York area, where she offers nutrition counseling and fitness coaching to a diverse clientele. Learn about our editorial process Published on August 18, 2021 Fact checked Verywell Fit content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Emily Swaim Fact checked by Emily Swaim LinkedIn Emily is a fact checker, editor, and writer who has expertise in psychology, health and lifestyle content. Learn about our editorial process Print Key Takeaways Nearly 42% of elite athletes met the criteria for at least one mental disorder.Stress levels and training load largely impact an athlete's mental health.The importance of mental health care is not limited to elite athletes but is relevant for everyone. The biggest buzz surrounding the Tokyo Olympics isn't gold, silver, or bronze. Instead, mental health took center stage as Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka opened up about their own mental health. Interestingly, this development coincides with a new study that highlights the prevalence of mental health issues like depression and anxiety among Olympic-level athletes. But the importance of this information is not limited to just Olympians. It also applies to other athletes as well—even those weekend warriors setting personal records (PRs) at the local gym. Mental health should be a top priority for everyone. “When it comes to athletes, they’re no different from anyone else," says Stephen Wakschal, PhD, a New York State-licensed psychologist who also serves as the Mental Health Director for NYPD CrossFit. "They just happen to be people whose job it is to be athletes. They still face the trials and tribulations we all do—family issues, anxiety, and bereavement—in addition to whatever the demands may be of their athletics.” How to Overcome Performance Anxiety in Sports With Psychology About The Study The study, which was published in Psychology of Sport and Exercise, followed 186 Canadian athletes training for the 2020 Summer Olympics. Throughout the study, researchers evaluated the prevalence of mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and eating disorders among the athletes. They also looked at the relationship between stress, social support, and self-esteem, and the athletes' symptoms. What the researchers discovered was that nearly 42% of the athletes met the criteria for one or more mental disorders. More specifically, 31.7% of the study's athletes reported symptoms of depression, 18.8% reported symptoms of anxiety, and nearly 9% were at risk for eating disorders. The researchers also noted that an athlete's training load and stress levels were often predictors of depression and anxiety. Stephen Wakschal, PhD They learn that their core value is to perform. When placed in a position where their performance is not up to standard, it can affect their very existence. — Stephen Wakschal, PhD To mental health experts, these results are not surprising. An elite athlete's life stresses often deviate far from the norm. Not only are they often living far from home and away from loved ones, but they also are thrust into financial changes, and have an extrinsic motivation to perform, says Dr. Wakschal. "Athletes, in general, have been raised on the premise of approval being performance-related," he says. "They learn that their core value is to perform. When placed in a position where their performance is not up to standard, it can affect their very existence." How Running Improves Your Mental Health Training the Mind And while that extrinsic motivation to perform is par for the course for elite athletes—medals and championships are on the line, after all—normalizing improving mental health as a daily practice, as opposed to something dealt with only in crisis, can help tap into an athlete's intrinsic motivation. For this reason, experts like Graham Betchart, MA, a mental performance coach who has worked with numerous NBA players, emphasize the importance of training the mind on a daily basis. Just as elite athletes condition their bodies and tend to their nutritional needs, they also need daily mental coaching as well. Graham Betchart, MA Athletes love routines. This is all about creating habits, not a quick fix. — Graham Betchart, MA Betchart advises thinking of mental health care as existing on a spectrum. On one end, you have a surgeon, and on the other, a strength and conditioning coach, he says. "You're not going to seek out the surgeon every day to work on your body, and you're not going to your strength and conditioning coach if your leg is bleeding out," he says. "But each serves his or her purpose. We need to treat mental health the same way." To accomplish this goal, Betchart focuses on pro-active mental skills training—the key tenets of which are being present in the moment and trusting physical skills. Breaking down the process into what he refers to as MVPs (meditation, visualization, and powerful self-talk), success is gauged by answering the question: "How present was I at the moment?" "Athletes love routines," he says. "This is all about creating habits, not a quick fix. The greatest athletes trust the most. They're willing to be vulnerable and go into that space of finding grace, poise, and surrender. Victory goes to the vulnerable." But perhaps most notable in Betchart's approach is the concept of dual coding, essentially combining music with his meditations. Just as preschoolers learn the ABCs and nursery rhymes through melodies, Betchart taps into the same concept. "It's coaching with a hook," he says. "Music and athletes go hand in hand." The Best Ways to Exercise Your Stress Away The Role of Diet The role of diet in improving anxiety and depression is an emerging area of research and can be applied to the goals of an elite athlete as well. But sometimes athletes struggle with their diet and food choices. In fact, an athlete's mental state can impact food choices, which can in turn impact performance, says Kate Davis, RD, CSSD, LDN, a registered dietitian and board-certified specialist in sports nutrition (RDkate.com). "Mental conditioning is just as important for the elite athlete as training and nutrition," says Davis. "It is yet another important tool to allow athletes to compete and perform at their best." Overall, an athlete's mindset can impact what they choose to eat. It also can affect their ability to eat enough to support their training. So, the three areas of nutrition, training, and mental conditioning are inseparable, Davis says. Food and Mood: How Your Diet Affects Your Mental Health How This Applies to Everyday People The candor of athletes such as Biles, Osaka—and even Michael Phelps in the past—may have shone a light on the importance of mental health among elite athletes. But experts agree that being mindful of and caring for your mental health is important for everyone, not just for the athletes at the top of their sports. Even if you're not out seeking a place on a podium, there's something to be gleaned from the techniques used by some of the world's greatest athletes. “I’m a little bit biased but mental health should be primary," says Dr. Wakschal. "Everything filters down from good mental health—including sleep hygiene and self-care. Where [mental health] is currently, is much lower on the totem pole and often neglected.” What This Means For You Although research indicates that elite athletes can be prone to mental health issues like depression and anxiety, the need for mental health care is not limited to Olympians. Even weekend warriors and casual exercisers could benefit from taking care of their mental health. If you are concerned about your mental health or if you're experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression, contact a healthcare provider for an evaluation. They can help you develop a treatment plan that is right for you. The Best Ways to Cultivate Your Mental Strength Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get one simple hack every day to make your life healthier. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 2 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Poucher ZA, Tamminen KA, Sabiston CM, Cairney J, Kerr G. Prevalence of symptoms of common mental disorders among elite Canadian athletes. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2021;57:102018. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.102018 Firth J, Marx W, Dash S, et al. The effects of dietary improvement on symptoms of depression and anxiety: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Psychosom Med. 2019;81(3):265-280. doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000000673