What you need to know about mental health in athletes
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Chris Mosunic, PhD, RD, MBA
With the pressure of practice and performing, it's no wonder an athlete's mental health can suffer. Explore common mental health issues in athletes and how they can break the stigma.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re on your school team or in a professional league, if you’ve got a passion for sports you likely know what it’s like to dedicate hours to practice, conditioning, and perfecting your performance. Not to mention pushing yourself to achieve your next personal best, trying to eat right, sleep right, rest right, and everything in between. And that’s at the same time as juggling life’s other commitments.
But behind the medals, trophies, and game-day excitement, there’s a side to sports that doesn’t always make the highlight reels — the toll it can take on your mental health.
You might find that the constant pressure to succeed, perform, and stay in peak condition means you feel like you can’t ever relax or show weakness.
But in recent years, many famous athletes have opened up about their own mental health challenges, sharing their stories to break down the stigma and remind us that even top competitors have moments of doubt, anxiety, and exhaustion. How could they not?
Why is an athlete’s mental health important?
The short answer? Because athletes are human. While they may have extraordinary physical prowess, if athletes don’t take care of their mental health, there’s a whole world of issues they might end up facing. This could include short-term issues that undermine performance including losing focus, energy, or motivation. But there are more serious consequences too including burnout, anxiety, and depression — and all the physical issues that go along with those.
When athletes are encouraged to prioritize their mental health as much as their physical health though, there are tons of benefits that can supercharge their performance and wellbeing. Think: cultivating more confidence, recovering from setbacks more quickly, and handling game-day stress in a way that allows them to reach peak performance.
Luckily, sports organizations, coaches, and athletes are starting to see the importance of mental health as part of overall athletic health. And this increasing recognition of mental health in sports is helping athletes to break the stigma and get the support they need.
What can influence mental health in athletes?
Athletes face pressures that go beyond physical training, and those pressures can take a toll on their mental wellbeing. Here are just a few factors that can influence the mental health of athletes in a detrimental way.
Performance pressure: Competition demands high performance, sometimes pushing athletes to their physical and mental limits. They may feel pressure to ‘win’ from coaches, teammates, family, and fans—and themselves—which can (understandably) lead to anxiety or fear of failure.
Public scrutiny: Athletes in the spotlight face the watchful eye of fans and critics — especially with social media. Negative comments can lead to stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
Injury and recovery: Beyond physical pain, athletes may feel isolated, frustrated, and anxious about their future in their given sport. Challenging recovery periods can lead to depression or anxiety over losing skills or fitness.
Training intensity and burnout: Intense schedules with little rest can cause both physical and mental exhaustion, and reduce motivation. It can also make athletes feel disconnected from their sport, and can even lead to depression.
Balancing life and sport: The commitment required for athletic success can make it hard to balance training with other aspects of life, like school, work, and relationships, which can cause stress, anxiety, and loneliness.
Common mental health issues in athletes
The key to beginning to break the stigma around mental health in athletes is to acknowledge that it’s much more common than we think. Not only are mental health issues common, they’re also treatable.
Anxiety
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues in sports, often driven by the intense pressure to perform. Before competitions, it’s natural to feel nervous, tense, or overwhelmed, but for some, the anxiety can go deeper, leading to racing thoughts, self-doubt, and an inability to focus. Performance anxiety can also cause physical symptoms like sweating, shaking, or a racing heart, which can interfere with their ability to perform. If anxiety is affecting your performance, take a look at our eight tips to deal with crippling anxiety.
Depression
Depression in athletes can arise due to injuries, setbacks, or feeling burnt out. If an athlete is experiencing depression, it may be common for them to feel disconnected from their sport and teammates, or struggle to find motivation to train. This can feel isolating, making it harder to ask for help. But always remember you’re not alone: try our 12 tips to help you cope with depression.
Eating disorders
In some sports where weight or appearance is front and center, such as gymnastics, wrestling, or dance, athletes might feel pressure to maintain a certain body shape or weight. This pressure can sometimes lead to disordered eating behaviors like restrictive eating, binging, or excessive exercise, which have serious physical and mental health consequences,
Burnout
When an athlete trains intensely without giving their body and mind time to rest and recover, they might become physically and mentally exhausted, disconnected from their sport, and less motivated to perform. It can be hard to see a way out of these feelings, but our 13 ways to support your recovery from burnout might be a good place to start.
Substance misuse
The stress and pressure of sports can sometimes lead athletes to cope in unhealthy ways. They may turn to performance-enhancing substances, alcohol or other drugs to manage stress or pain. These “quick fixes” can quickly spiral out of control, impacting your physical health, performance, and relationships.
How athletes can get help for their mental health: 5 mindful self-care tips
While this can all feel like a lot, there are some simple ways for athletes to manage and support their mental health. These five tips can help boost resilience, improve performance, and find balance with their personal life, staying connected to the joy of their sport while safeguarding health and happiness.
1. Prioritize quality rest and recovery
We know how easy it is to overlook rest when you’re under constant pressure to push yourself to the limits. But without a proper break, your body and mind can’t fully recover, so treat rest as an essential part of your routine — just like workouts and practices. And rest doesn’t just mean sleep: there are seven types of rest that can help you feel fully renewed, so try to incorporate them all.
How to practice:
Schedule rest days, and allow time for recovery after injuries.
Get quality sleep by setting a regular sleep schedule, creating a calming bedtime routine, and limiting screen time before bed.
💙 Finding it difficult to drift off? Try the Unwind Into Sleep meditation with Chibs Okereke.
2. Stay connected with friends and family
There can be so many ups and downs while competing or even training, so having people around you to turn to is important. Supportive friends and family can be a grounding force to give you comfort and encouragement when things are tough.
How to practice:
Spend time with loved ones outside of your sport or team to keep your perspective, reduce feelings of isolation, and feel supported.
Connect with people who genuinely care to remind you that you’re valued for who you are, not just for your performance.
Call a friend or have a family meal whenever you need to regain your sense of balance and belonging.
3. Make mindfulness a part of your routine
Mindfulness can help you stay present, manage stress, and handle challenging emotions which can, in turn, boost your training and performance. And luckily you can do it anytime, anywhere.
How to practice:
Use simple mindfulness techniques, like deep breathing, meditation, or guided visualization to help you relax and regain focus, especially during high-pressure moments.
Spend a few minutes each day focusing on breathing or calming thoughts to help improve your overall mood, reduce anxiety, and build mental resilience.
Practice mindfulness before a game or practice session to help you start with a clearer, more focused mind.
💙 Check out the Before A Performance meditation in Tamara Levitt’s Confidence series.
4. Set realistic goals
Goal-setting is a common practice for athletes, but it’s important to keep goals realistic and flexible. Unrealistic or overly ambitious goals can lead to frustration, burnout, or feelings of failure if they’re too hard to achieve.
How to practice:
Set smaller, achievable goals to build your confidence and give you a sense of growth and momentum — it means you can track your progress without feeling overwhelmed.
Break down big goals into daily or weekly steps, and celebrate small wins along the way.
Sometimes it helps to consider growth setting more than goal setting and focus on your growth as an athlete.
💙 Learn how to celebrate your Small Wins in this Daily Jay session with Jay Shetty.
5. Seek professional support when needed
Mental health professionals, especially those who specialize in sports psychology, can help you manage anxiety, deal with performance pressure, and build mental skills like focus and resilience. Some athletes may feel hesitant about asking for help, but mental health support is just as important as physical care.
How to practice:
Seek support from a therapist, counselor, or sports psychologist to stay mentally strong.
Check out what support your school, sports organization, or team provides for access to mental health resources
Look for online options to find support that fits your schedule.
Mental health in athletes FAQs
What are some effective ways for athletes to manage stress?
Making time to manage stress is important for athletes, as it can affect their performance and enjoyment of their sport. Here are a few simple practices to help you feel calm, focused, and in control:
Try deep breathing exercises. These can calm the nervous system, helping you get in the zone.
Use positive self-talk, like affirmations such as “I am prepared” to boost confidence and shift your mindset to calmness.
Break tasks into smaller steps, like focusing on one game at a time, to reduce overwhelm.
Enjoy less intense activities, such as yoga or walking, for a mental and physical break.
Need affirmation inspiration? Try our 20 affirmations for anxiety relief.
How can parents, caregivers, and coaches support the mental health of their athletes?
Parents, caregivers, and coaches support an athlete's mental health by creating a positive environment that’s focused on learning and growth, rather than just winning. Emphasize improvement and hard work over results to help athletes feel valued beyond their performance, as this can reduce pressure and build mental resilience.
It’s important that athletes feel they can discuss their feelings without judgment, so plan regular check-ins and team meetings to help this. Also, learn about mental health issues like anxiety and burnout to help you recognize when the athlete you’re supporting needs extra help, like professional care. When you spot the signs, gently encourage them to look after their mental wellbeing.
Are mental health resources available specifically for student-athletes?
Many schools, universities, and sports organizations offer tailored mental health resources for student-athletes, so check out your school’s athletic department or counseling center to access services like counseling, hotlines, and wellness workshops. These resources can help student-athletes balance academic, social, and athletic pressures.
Some institutions employ sports psychologists who focus on skills like stress management and goal-setting, and there may be peer support groups too, where athletes can share experiences.
Look out for online resources, like the Calm app or virtual counseling, so there’s always support available when they need it. You can also explore organizations like the NCAA and Athlete Ally, which offer specific resources for student-athletes.
What impact does injury have on an athlete’s mental health?
For many athletes, dealing with injury can affect your mental as well as physical health, leading to frustration, anxiety, and depression.
You may worry about losing skills, fear not returning to previous performance levels, or feel a loss of their sporting identity, which can impact your self-esteem and motivation.
You might feel sidelined because of your injury, which can create isolation and sadness as your usual routines and social connections in training and competing can be disrupted.
If you’re used to immediate results or taking action to make progress, enforced rest can feel difficult, which can feel frustrating.
To combat these effects, try to stay involved in your team (or peers) social activities as much as you can, set small recovery goals, and maintain hobbies outside of sports, as this can help you manage the mental impact of injury.
Chat to a mental health professional, particularly in sports psychology, for valuable coping strategies and support during your recovery.
How can athletes overcome the stigma around seeking mental health support?
The stigma around mental health in sports is gradually diminishing, but many athletes still worry about seeking help in case it’s perceived as weakness. Overcoming this cycle begins with recognizing that mental health struggles are common and not at all shameful.
Normalize mental health support as part of training with open discussions.
Talk to your coaches, teammates, and the organizations around you about prioritizing mental health — it can nurture a culture where seeking help is seen as a positive step toward wellbeing.
Take inspiration from peers who’ve shared their mental health journeys, breaking stereotypes and encouraging support-seeking.
Find out about resources like sports psychologists, so accessing help gets easier.
Calm your mind. Change your life.
Mental health is hard. Getting support doesn't have to be. The Calm app puts the tools to feel better in your back pocket, with personalized content to manage stress and anxiety, get better sleep, and feel more present in your life.
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