Mental Health Literacy In Soort Flashcards
Why is Mental Health Literacy (MHL) needed in sport?
MHL is needed to address mental health issues that athletes face, including stigma, low help-seeking behavior, and the unique pressures of sports culture.
What is the critical lens approach to MHL?
It involves questioning claims, evaluating evidence, and drawing independent conclusions about mental health in sport.
What is a common misconception about athletes and mental health?
Athletes, especially football players, are often seen as ‘machines’ who can push through physical and mental pain, but they are not immune to mental health problems.
What mental health challenges do athletes face?
Depression, anxiety, addiction, and stress-related disorders.
What is the relationship between peak competitive performance and mental health?
Peak athletic performance (ages 20-30) coincides with the age of onset for most mental disorders (by age 24).
What unique stressors exist in elite sports?
Financial pressure, performance anxiety, physical strain, media scrutiny, and career instability.
How many stressors in professional sport could induce mental health disorders?
Research identified 640 distinct stressors (Arnold & Fletcher, 2012).
How do mental health prevalence rates in athletes compare to the general population?
Similar or higher rates-ranging from 9% to 45% depending on the disorder and study.
What factors increase the risk of depression in athletes?
Higher competition levels, injuries, multiple concussions, being female, and competing in individual sports.
Why is stigma a major barrier for athletes seeking mental health support?
Fear of appearing weak, cultural pressures to stay strong, and concerns about being judged by teammates and coaches.
What are the different types of stigma related to mental health in sport?
• Public stigma: Negative stereotypes endorsed by society.
• Self-stigma: Athletes internalize negative beliefs.
• Perceived stigma: Athletes believe others will judge them.
• Anticipated stigma: Expecting discrimination.
• Experienced stigma: Actual encounters with bias.
• Stigma by association: Those close to an athlete also face stigma.
What is structural stigma?
Institutional policies that limit mental health support.
What are common reasons athletes avoid seeking mental health support?
Lack of knowledge, previous negative experiences, time constraints, and hypermasculine sport culture.
What percentage of NCAA athletes feel there aren’t enough mental health services?
49% believe the NCAA does not provide enough support.
What is the first argument for why MHL is needed in sport?
The peak age of competitive sport coincides with the onset of mental health problems.
What is the second argument for why MHL is needed in sport?
Sport culture has unique mental health risks.
What is the third argument for why MHL is needed in sport?
Prevalence rates of mental health problems are similar or higher than the general population.
What is the fourth argument for why MHL is needed in sport?
There are high levels of stigma.
What is the fifth argument for why MHL is needed in sport?
Athletes have lower levels of help-seeking.
What is the key finding of DeLenardo & Terrion (2014)?
Athletes, particularly male varsity football players, are often perceived as ‘machines’ who push through pain, but this ignores their vulnerability to mental health issues.
What supporting evidence is provided regarding varsity athletes’ mental health?
Studies show varsity athletes experience depression, anxiety, and addictive disorders at significant rates.
(Brewer, 1993; Reardon & Factor, 2010)
What is a critical evaluation of the study by DeLenardo & Terrion?
The study highlights stigma as a barrier to help-seeking but could benefit from clearer definitions of ‘struggle’ and more recent evidence.
What is the main barrier preventing elite athletes from seeking mental health support?
Stigma is the main barrier.
Athletes fear that acknowledging mental health struggles will be perceived as weakness and used against them competitively.
What are other barriers contributing to low help-seeking rates among athletes?
Other barriers include lack of time, awareness, and past negative experiences.
