ABSTRACT
In this section, the authors address the various challenges and problems in the context of mental health in elite sport. Besides mental disorders, there are various syndromes with clear negative impacts. Although its clinical recognition is sometimes at debate, athlete burnout is a syndrome with high importance and exemplifies a major challenge for mental health in elite sport. Further, its overlap and somewhat unclear separation to depression and the overtraining syndrome is another challenge for practitioners and researchers alike. Often, the high physical demands and impacts interact with mental health and illness. This is reflected in the overtraining syndrome and just as well by the problem of concussion in elite athletes. Besides physical demands, the psychological demands that go along with competing at the highest sporting level challenge mental health aspects. Anxiety and fear of competitions can intensify stress in athletes and possibly affect performance as well as mental health issues. Understanding stress within the context of elite sport is therefore vital. Stigmatisation of athletes with mental issues can hinder help-seeking behaviour. Taking into consideration athletes’ careers from an integral perspective, different phases, and especially the transition between those phases are important for building mental health and resilience to adversities and negative behaviour such as illegal performance enhancement and drug misuse. The following section will give a thorough overview of all the mentioned topics and their importance considering mental health and illness. The authors provide empirical data, such as prevalence rates where available, offer theoretical models explaining connections and processes, and conclude with recommendations for athletes and their support teams in navigating and handling these subclinical, related challenges.
