Topic 13: Sport & Mental Health

Question 1

Mental Disorder

Answer 1

Syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotion regulation, or behaviour that reflects a dysfunction. Approximately 20% of the general Canadian population will experience mental disorders. Elite athletes experience similar to higher rates.

Question 2

Athletes’ Mental Health Journey

Answer 2

Recognizing a Problem
↓
Receiving a Diagnosis
↓
Continuing to train/compete
↓
Making a transition
↓
a. taking a break
b. Retiring
↓
Seeking treatment
↓
a. go back to continuing to train/compete

Question 3

Athletes Recommendations for Improved Sport Journeys

Answer 3

1. Better access to mental health support
2. Improved mental health reporting and funding
3. Education to decrease stigma

Question 4

Dual Continua Model of Mental Health / Illness

Answer 4

Struggling: Incomplete Mental Illness (hight health, hight illness)
Flourishing: Complete Mental Health (high health, low illness)
Languishing: Incomplete Mental Health (low health, low illness)
Floundering: Complete Mental Illness (low health, high illness)

Question 5

Flow Chart of Season Stages & Categories (Mental Health)

Answer 5

Pre-Season: Building a Foundation for flourishing
- Making positive connections
- planning
In-Season: Maintaining Flourishing
- Managing their commitments
- Communicating with coaches
- Looking for positives
Post-Season: Re-incesting in Flourishing
- Reflecting on their season
- Taking a break from sport