A new mental health strategy will be implemented across
all elite sports to promote good mental wellbeing and
give athletes and National Governing Bodies better
information about accessing sports and clinical
psychologists.
By 2024, elite sport must have mental health procedures
embedded in their performance plans, and provide clear
pathways for athletes to help them access professional
mental health support.
National Lottery Funded athletes will also be
encouraged to visit mental health units to improve
discussions and help break down the stigma around
mental health.
Good mental health practise will also be embedded at a
grassroots level as part of the plan.
Sport England will ingrain mental wellbeing into its
Talent Strategy and teach holistic athlete development,
and mental health welfare alongside physical training.
The Action Plan was developed after the Minister hosted
two roundtables last year one with elite athletes from
across British sport to hear firsthand the pressures
they face and the other for sports and mental health
organisations to discuss how the sector can improve
support, and share best practice.
, Minister for Sport
and Civil Society, said:
We know that sport has a very positive impact on
people’s mental health and can help in their
recovery. But when sport is your job, the immense
pressure to succeed can become too much.
This Action Plan sets out how Government, sports and
mental health organisations can work together to give
athletes the right support before they reach crisis
point.
Progress has been made to break down the stigma
around mental health and this plan underlines our
commitment to tackling this important issue in sport.
It will help create a stronger industry where our
elite sports men and women can continue to thrive and
inspire future generations.
Emma Boggis, chief executive of the Sport Recreation
Alliance, added:
I am very pleased to have worked together with the
Sports Minister and Mind to develop this Action Plan
which is committed to making a real change for elite
sportspeople.
We know that there is good practice in the sector
through our work on the Mental Health Charter for
Sport and Recreation and working closely with our
wider membership. But we also recognise that this
needs to become common practice so that athletes and
their support teams feel that their mental wellbeing
is a priority.
We believe that by working together we can
collectively help to create a positive environment,
with greater understanding and knowledge, that helps
our athletes and the wider population to engage in
sport and physical activity.
The government will now establish a small group to
oversee progress in delivering the plan and will report
on progress as part of the Sporting Future annual
report to Parliament.
