Dr Sandra Leyland has recently disseminated the results of a research project on 19th November at the Royal Society for Medicine, London. Dr Leyland has worked with Dr Lisa Board and Consultant Psychiatrist and Visiting Professor Alan Currie on a project funded by the English Institute of Sport. The work the team completed examined the prevalence of psychological distress and well-being amongst 371 elite athletes in the UK. They found that nearly a quarter of elite athletes reported high psychological distress, alongside poor mental wellbeing. Female elite athletes were twice as likely to display signs of distress or poor wellbeing than males. Distress was also high for those planning to retire. Additionally, the research team identified that the type of sport influenced mental health, with Paralympic athletes reporting higher distress that Olympic athletes, and winter sports reporting higher distress than summer sports. Overall, the research proposed the recommendation that mental health support plans should include regular screening for psychological distress and wellbeing to help identify at risk athletes in the English High Performance programme. This research may help lead to improved conditions in elite sport and influence future Olympic and Paralympic cycle planning.
The event was hosted by the English Institute of Sport (EIS) Mental Health Expert Team and was an opportunity for sports medicine practitioners to learn more about supporting mental health in Olympic and Paralympic sport based on the UK High Performance System experience. The EIS Mental Health Expert Team is designed to promote a positive and sustainable mental health environment within high performance sport. The research, to be published in the Journal of Athlete Experience and Development, provides an overview of the current status of the mental health of athletes in the EIS system, making practitioners aware of common mental health issues that impact on performance. The research highlights the importance of focusing on mental wellbeing as part of holistic athlete support and works in alignment with the EIS Mental Health Strategy.
Further information on the project can be found in the published report
Leyland, S.D., Currie, A., Board, E., Mistry, A., Jaques, R., Ranson, C. A Survey of the Mental Health of UK Olympic and Paralympic Sport Athletes, Journal of Athlete Experience and Development. In Press