Establishing and Sustaining a Team Environment in Support of Mental Health

This chapter provides perspectives and guidelines that can assist you in collaborating with the coaching staff of a team to create and sustain an environment conducive to the mental health of their athletes. First, it offers a rationale for creating an environment for mental health at the team level. Second, it considers the nature and scope of an environment for team mental health. Third, the chapter discusses the roles and responsibilities of coaches for establishing and sustaining a team environment conducive to mental health. Fourth, it details how to orient coaches and other staff to establishing a team environment that supports mental health. Fifth, it describes seven factors (DURABLE) for bringing positive mental health to the team level, within the context of a sport organization. The chapter concludes with practitioner exercises.