I’m delighted to speak to Dr Carla Edwards in this week’s episode. Carla is a psychiatrist whose practice focuses on the treatment of mental illness and psychological struggles in athletes.  

Carla completed her Bachelor of Science and Masters’ degrees in Chemistry at Mount Allison University. While completing her degrees, she also competed on their varsity volleyball team, accumulating such awards as Conference Rookie of the Year and First Team All Star for each of her five years of competition. She was inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Sport Hall of Fame in 2015. Carla obtained her medical degree at Memorial University of Newfoundland before completing a psychiatry residency at McMaster University. She has been an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences at McMaster University since 2005. 

Carla is President at the International Society for Sports Psychiatry which aims to carry the science and practice of psychiatry to the athletic community, so that all people may enjoy the benefits of healthy participation in sports. The Society develops the field of sports psychiatry and advocates for mental health and wellness in sports.

Carla also holds leadership positions with the Canadian Academy of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Student Athlete Mental Health Initiative, and U SPORTS. Additionally, Carla is involved with the Safe Sport International Athlete Working Group, the Canadian Football League mental health program and the NCAA Mental Health Advisory Group.

Drawing from her extensive experience working with athletes Carla has written a paper entitled “Athlete Maltreatment in Sport” which we discuss in detail.

You can find the paper here: https://www.sportsmed.theclinics.com/article/S0278-5919(23)00068-6/fulltext