https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp By Jake Henzes en-us 2021-06-04 17:11:55 UTC 2023-06-21 12:24:40 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f3c6.png jakehenzes4 https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1585828611 Mental health awareness has become an elemental aspect of the modern cultural revolution we are experiencing in the past decade+. Mental health and physical wellness have become mainstream topics of conversation. Sports and society have mimicked one another, in the importance of athletes voicing their opinions about mental health and wellness, as well as how their mental state affects their ability to perform.


]]> 2021-06-04 17:14:15 UTC https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1585828611 jakehenzes4 https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1585952156 Mental health and wellness was long hidden in sports behind a vail of "toughness", in particular for male athletes who are forced to display traits of traditional "masculinity". These societal expectations lead to a high rate of anxiety and depression amongst athletes, both at the youth/recreational level, all the way to the elite/professional level. According to Benyan Mental Health, studies show the rate of anxiety and depression amongst elite athletes to be around 26%, compared to 20% for the general population (Walonin et al, 2016).]]> 2021-06-04 17:59:08 UTC https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1585952156 jakehenzes4 https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1585952397 1. Why are athletes suffering from a higher rate of mental health issues compared to general populations?

2. How have cultural expectations determined what is traditionally masculine behavior in sport? How have these tropes negatively effected the mental health and wellness of athletes?

3. What type of interventions are being used to counter-act the negative effects of mental health and wellness, in particular the effects of self-imposed or societal pressures? ]]> 2021-06-04 17:59:14 UTC https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1585952397 jakehenzes4 https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1586029783 From the very origins of sport during the first Olympic Games (776 BC), the Ancient Greek people used sports as a tool to prepare for war or to train as hunters (Bellis, 2019). These life or death events were necessary for survival during this time period. As sports have evolved into the modern western context (mid to late 1800's), they no longer carry the same weight as a training tool for such serious events. Rather sports have evolved from a leisure and recreational activity to the major social and economic powerhouse we see in society today.]]> 2021-06-04 18:34:07 UTC https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1586029783 jakehenzes4 https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1586049878 Due to the intense nature of sports origins and the current climate sports play within society, we can see how athletes could easily become overwhelmed by the sheer importance of their participation in a fundamentally recreational game. Mental health in sports have been researched since the early 1920's, when the first generation of sports psychologists were examining how exceptional athletes are able to excel in their sport. However it wasn't until the late 1970's that sports psychologists began actively working with athletes to improve their game. As professional sports became even more notable however, it wasn't until the next generation of practitioners began working on mental health and wellness with athletes, both for on and off the field issues. ]]> 2021-06-04 18:43:54 UTC https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1586049878 jakehenzes4 https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1586070256 According to Walonin et al (2016), there are a myriad of reasons as to why athletes suffer higher rates of depression and anxiety than the general population. Some of the more notable reasons are self-imposed, such as self-doubt, misuse of alcohol or other recreational drugs, and disrupted sleep patterns; whereas other reasons for the higher rates are externally based, such as pressure, high stakes environments, and academic/athletic rigor (Kerkhoffs et al, 2019). ]]> 2021-06-04 18:54:16 UTC https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1586070256 jakehenzes4 https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1586232463 When considering the historical nature of sport, we can see how the stereotypically "masculine" ideals are founded, which in turn creates toxic masculinity. The more toxic masculinity is prevalent within a given culture, their is an increase of mental health issues amongst those athletes, due to the ideals of being non-emotional and holding things in (Miller, 2009). ]]> 2021-06-04 20:36:15 UTC https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1586232463 jakehenzes4 https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1586234630 Henricksen et al (2018) constructed a core group of sport psychologist clinicians to create the "Consensus Statement on Improving the Mental Health of High Performance Athletes". This coalition of mental health experts found 6 key elements to intervene of negative mental health environments. they are as follows:

1. Mental health is a core component of a culture of excellence
2. Mental health in a sport context should be better defined
3. Research on mental health in sport should broaden the scope of assessment
4. Athlete mental health is a major resource for the whole athletic career and life post-athletic career
5. The environment can nourish or malnourish athlete mental health
6. Mental health is everyone's business, but should be over seen by one or a few specified members

(Henricksen et al, 2018)

]]> 2021-06-04 20:37:59 UTC https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1586234630 jakehenzes4 https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1586264209 Athlete mental health has become a forefront issue within the world of sports. However I believe we need even further preventative mental health counseling for all athletes, which should be provided in the form of licensed psychologists being employed by college, club, and professional athletics programs to facilitate this process. As we continue learning about mental health in society, it is critical sports keeps ahead of the curve to provide the greatest resources available for athletes to remain healthy on and off the court, both physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. ]]> 2021-06-04 21:00:59 UTC https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1586264209 jakehenzes4 https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1586269729 2021-06-04 21:05:10 UTC https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1586269729 jakehenzes4 https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1586442391 2021-06-05 00:00:50 UTC https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1586442391 jakehenzes4 https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1586444188 2021-06-05 00:03:29 UTC https://padlet.com/jakehenzes4/3f6mcvtnkno14jxp/wish/1586444188