Prioritize routine screening and regular monitoring of elite athletes' mental health, says sports body

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has released a consensus statement emphasizing the importance of routine screening and regular monitoring of mental health for elite athletes. According to the statement, elite athletes are more likely to experience mental health symptoms and disorders at rates comparable to, or even higher than, the general population. This is due to a complex interplay of biopsychosocial and ecological factors that influence athlete well-being.

The consensus statement recommends that mental health screening should be conducted at predefined time points as well as following significant events. It also suggests that emergency plans, tailored care, and post-transition support should be part of the athlete's overall management plan. The overall goal is to foster a culture that prioritizes well-being and mental health among elite athletes.

The statement highlights the need for system-level attention and coordinated strategies to address mental health issues among elite athletes. It emphasizes the responsibility of the entire sport ecosystem, including clinicians, coaches, and sport organizations, to recognize, respond to, and proactively support mental health. The authors argue that mental health in elite sport should be viewed as an ecosystem issue rather than solely the responsibility of the athletes themselves.

Furthermore, the statement addresses the transition phase of an athlete's career, noting that difficult transitions are strongly associated with the development of mental health symptoms and disorders. It calls for decisive action from international federations and national governing bodies to integrate mental health as a core element of governance and high-performance systems, rather than treating it as an adjunct to medical care or athlete resilience.