Exploring the barriers and facilitators to mental health help-seeking behaviours in British elite track and field athletes

Abstract

Track and Field (T&F) is at the heart of the summer Olympic Games and research has highlighted mental health issues in this population, such as depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and eating disorders. Our qualitative study explored the barriers and facilitators to help-seeking behaviors among British athletes to help create, implement, and inform pathways for mental health support. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine elite T&F athletes (aged 21–27 years, M = 22.8), who had an average of five years’ international competitive experience, including participating at various Commonwealth, European and World Championships. Four key themes were constructed and categorized as a barrier or facilitator to mental health help-seeking behaviors. Barriers included a lack of access to and prioritization of mental health support in comparison to physical health support and the scrutiny of others regarding mental health issues within (e.g., sports commentators) and outside (e.g., the public) the sport. In contrast, facilitators included normalizing mental health experiences through tailored online platforms and storytelling by role models and the team around the athlete in promoting openness to, and engagement with help-seeking. Overall, there is a need to embed mental health support into elite athletes’ routines, to the equivalent level of physical health support. A novel outcome of our study identified the value of sports specific online platforms in increasing awareness and sharing experiences of mental health. Key stakeholders should consider supporting such online platforms and improve the dissemination of mental health information to strengthen communities that are supportive and nourishing to athletes. Lay Summary: Nine elite track and field athletes discussed factors impacting help-seeking for mental health. Data indicated the need to increase the provision of psychological support, so it is on par with support provided for physical health and to consider harnessing the potential of sport specific online platforms to normalize mental health.IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Our study reinforces the need for National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and sport practitioners to consider an increase in, and clarity over, the provision of sport psychology and mental health support in the track and field environment. It is essential to ensure that athletes know where and when to seek support and to normalize mental health issues within elite sport so they can be holistically supported. Sharing experiences of mental health via sport specific online platforms offer a novel but important context by which to empower athletes with their help-seeking intentions and challenges the stigma surrounding mental health in sport. NGB’s may wish to expand and utilize such platforms to promote mental health support services or educational programmes.