The Importance of Mental Health in Athletes with Two AMSSM Past Presidents

The mental health of athletes has been in the spotlight throughout this summer, as high-profile athletes such as Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles have spoken out about the importance of prioritizing their physical, and especially their mental, well-being.

In this episode, host Giselle Aerni, MD, is joined by AMSSM Past Presidents Cindy Chang, MD, FAMSSM, and Margot Putukian, MD, FAMSSM, to discuss the AMSSM Position Statement on Mental Health Issues and Psychological Factors in Athletes, which Dr. Aerni also co-authored.

In this 33-minute conversation, they address the following topics:

• The importance of a position statement on the mental health of athletes and the novel aspects addressed in the document
• The team-based approach to mental health care and why it’s a crucial component for the well-being of athletes
• How the acceptance of mental health issues has evolved in recent years and the impact social media has on those perceptions
• The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on athletes’ mental health and how it reinforces the need for conversations about this vital issue

Resources:
Mental health issues and psychological factors in athletes: detection, management, effect on performance and prevention: American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Position Statement (bjsm.bmj.com/content/54/4/216.full)
Madam Athlete Podcast (madamathlete.com/)