ABSTRACT
Brazil is a country of continental proportions and with relevant socioeconomic problems that impact the mental health of the population, including athletes. The first records of the performance of psychology in sport in Brazil date back to 1954 and since then this science has been evolving in practical and theoretical terms. The main sports institutions in Brazil are the Brazilian Olympic Committee, the Brazilian Paralympic Committee, and the Brazilian Football Confederation. Each of these has a particular administrative characteristic and a history with different relationships in the context of caring for the mental health of athletes. One hundred and four sports psychologists and mental trainers participated in the study. An interview script was used to explore the different aspects of mental health in competitive athletes in Brazil. The coding of the data resulted in eight categories of analysis. The qualitative fields of the interview script allowed surveys of strategies adopted by different professionals of Sport Psychology, their respective institutions and coaches, as well as work proposals and barriers encountered. It is concluded that the field of mental health in Brazilian sport, despite the advances observed, still needs greater coverage and systematization. Sports managers should pay attention to this aspect and take more effective actions.
