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Raising awareness about mental health is an important step forward, reflecting a growing trend of outspoken and empowered modern athletes, including many of those competing at the Paris Olympics. The IOC also launched an Olympic “Athlete 365 Mind Zone”, a first in that sport, which provided a dedicated space for athletes to receive mental health support during competition. For the World Health Organization, “It is important to promote and support mental health in sport at all levels, as well as encourage more people to take up physical activity to support their mental health and well-being.”
The new approaches and campaign days are a great step forward, but perhaps more than anything they are a reminder of how much we all have in common when it comes to looking after ourselves. When Kenya’s best golfer, Mutahi Kibugu, was asked how he manages his mental health, he told DW, “Being grateful for the little things, expressing a lot of gratitude. Things could always be worse. We’re healthy and it’s another day to do something great.” , “It usually puts me in a good place.”
“Whenever I feel anxious or worried, I go to the gym. Physical fitness is really about the mind and the gym is my favorite place to be. Look good, feel good.” It hasn’t been easy for Kibugu, both on and off the golf course. Exactly a year after DW last spoke, Kibugu’s ranking has dropped but he is positive about moving forward. “Mental health is very important to me because there are a lot of people who suffer in silence and they don’t say anything and they live with it for a very long time. They don’t know the damage it causes and the problems it causes. “It’s very important that people can talk about it and not hold back what they’re feeling.”
Additional equality challenge for women
For Dr Anuradha Doddaballapur, former captain of the Germany women’s cricket team, the challenge is made even more difficult by the meaning of her sport of choice. “I think only recently have we started to look at this dimension,” Doddaballapur told DW. “We play, train and expect to perform well, and sometimes that’s not always easy to accomplish. For many of us playing cricket in Germany, we are combining two careers.” Doddaballapur is also a biomedical scientist and manages a full-time profession while playing international cricket. It becomes difficult to fight for equal treatment.
“Some of us are really supportive of gender equality and standing up for what is needed to move the women’s game forward. For me, those phases have been really hard when you have to fight on a weekly basis for what you think you deserve. Doddaballapur finds that taking a step back helps him maintain his perspective. “Sometimes I need to take a break and find someone to talk to. For me, it’s sharing it with my loved ones or my friends. And honestly, it’s like being a scientist. You’re good You spend weeks, months and years trying to figure out how to deal with it. There are times when you are anxious or even depressed, and you need to accept it and deal with it. Gotta find a way.”
It’s hard not to think about mental health on a daily basis for Shahad Farhani, the academy coach of Major League Soccer (MLS) team Columbus Crew in the US. Both Farahani and Columbus believe in emphasizing the person before the player, which means Farahani is also raising awareness about the mental health of his young players through investing in their mental health. “Working in the reality of academy football, knowing that the majority of players will not go on to become professional players, it is an important responsibility as coaches to not only develop players for the first team but also develop positive people who will thrive in society. To contribute. We try to do that on and off the field and hopefully it will work,” Farahani said humbly.
When it comes to actively managing his mental health, Farahani feels lucky to be close to home. “I use my time off to disconnect and spend some time with my family. It puts things in perspective. I think we have become so busy with daily life that spending time with our parents and grandparents is a good reminder of what is important in life. It’s also good to hear from people who have different life experiences. Although each of these voices represents a unique perspective from Kenya, Germany, and the US respectively, there is a broader reminder here that regular, proactive management of mental health is paramount to success in and out of sport. Where are you.
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