According to new research from Orygen, a mental health research institute, Australian high-performance athletes are prioritising their mental health.
The AIS Mental Health Audit, run by mental health research institute Orygen, showed 50 per cent of the 305 athletes who took part in the survey sought treatment in 2022, compared to just 39 per cent of participants in 2018.
The biennial survey also showed positive improvement in the mental health and wellbeing of high-performance support staff and coaches, with 61 per cent of those who responded sharing that their sport setting is a safe place to disclose mental health problems.
AIS acting director, Matti Clements, said while it’s great to see improvements in the stigma of mental health across the sector, more support is needed in the prevention space.
“The Australian high-performance sport system is united in the vision to win well, which means balancing ambitious performance goals with safe, fair and supportive cultures and ensuring that our athletes, coaches, and support staff win in all areas of life,” he said.
“The AIS Mental Health Referral Network is a key part of creating that environment of sustainable success. It has provided free, confidential advice and world-class services to more than 1300 people since launching in 2018.
“There is still work to be done. The AIS Mental Health Audit showed more than a quarter of the athletes experienced anxiety or depression in 2022, and our priority is to ensure everyone in the high-performance sport system receives help when they need it.”
As part of the commitment to improving mental health and wellbeing, the AIS has once again partnered with the Black Dog Institute to run the Mental Fitness Program, an initiative aimed at reducing rates of mental illness among young Australians.
Over the next six months, 22 high-performance athletes, including Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games athletes, will become AIS Mental Fitness Ambassadors, sharing their personal stories and mental health strategies with thousands of high school students across the country.
Among the ambassadors is Australian bowls player and two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ellen Ryan, who said seeking help with her mental health changed the course of her career.
“In 2018, I just missed out on the team for the Commonwealth Games. The current team had been really successful internationally, and I just hadn’t been able to break in yet. For me, I had worked so hard and sacrificed a lot. It made me not want to play anymore, and I lost my confidence,” she said.
“With the support from my Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement Manager, the AIS Mental Health Referral Network and the support from my close friends and family, I was able to overcome the challenges I faced.”
Fellow AIS Mental Fitness Ambassador and Olympic rower Giorgia Patten said, “Members of the community and particularly young people look up to Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and we are often perceived to be bulletproof”.
“I believe it’s important for us athletes to show vulnerability and allow people to see that even some of their biggest sporting heroes have tough times. I’m determined to help educate as many young people as possible to build their mental resilience to life’s challenges.”
