Sport stars’ mental health is just as important as their physical wellbeing
Like any other employee, athletes need to be protected from online abuse, says Joe Mcmorrow
Sadly, Scotland is not represented at the World Cup in Qatar but most football fans will be relishing tomorrow’s clash between Wales and England.
Off the pitch, the tournament throws a spotlight on mental health issues which can affect athletes and the need for sporting bodies to foster a culture, and develop underlying policies and processes, to support those impacted.
The need for action is demonstrated by the increasing number of high-profile athletes reporting mental health struggles, with root causes including online trolling and pressure from coaches, sponsors and the media.
Athletes’ mental health needs are as important as their physical health needs. Both contribute to overall wellbeing and performance, so mental health needs must be protected and
nurtured in the same way as physical health. Athletes may have unique vulnerabilities associated with being in the professional sporting world, ranging from the time and energy they invest in training, to competitive failure, worries about ageing and declining performance, burnout or injury.
Many athletes are perfectionists as competitors and might struggle to feel satisfied however they perform. Pressure can also put severe strain on athletes’ mental health and wellbeing, especially where the pressure crosses the line into abuse.
Athlete wellbeing issues have been highlighted in the context of football before, perhaps most notably after the 2020Europeanchampionshipswhen England players Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sanchoandmarcusrashfordsuffered racistonlineabuseaftermissingpenal
ties in the final. Other prominent athletes have shared experiences of mental health problems, but the stigma attached to mental health means that disc losing such issues in the workplace can be difficult for anyone. There is a need to create a safe, supportive space to facilitate such discussion.
Sports bodies need to be aware how to spot early warning signs. Charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness provide useful information, while there are a number of charities and organisations focused on mental health in professional sport, including Sporting mindsukandt he michael phelps Foundation.
Online abuse targeted at employees is an increasing problem that all employersneed to consider and employers can support employees subjected to online abuse by making use of available digital tools. pin sent ma sons has developed a new feature for its brand and reputation management tool, Alteria, which helps clients manage the online reputation for their company and employees, including protecting staff from online abuse.
Searches can be tailored to identify inappropriate posts referring to sports organisations, or to a particular athlete or employee. Using monitoring software that identifies online infringements gives organisations the option to file a takedown request to remove posts via the platform at the click of a button.
By pro actively monitoring major social media sites, identifying harmful comments, and requesting they be removed, employers will send a strong message that they embrace inclusion and diversity and will take steps to protect employees in the public eye.
Joe Mcmorrow is a Senior Associate, Pinsent Masons