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Sports and Mental Health Challenges

A statement from the American College of Sports Medicine.

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Sports and mental health challenges

Athletes worldwide continue to speak out about the mental health challenges of elite sports. A statement issued by the American College of Sports Medicine noted the following about sports and mental health:

  • Approximately 30% of female and 25% of male college student athletes report anxiety.
  • Only 10% of all college athletes seek professional mental-health care.
  • Thirty-five percent of elite athletes suffer from disordered eating, burnout, depression and/or anxiety.

The ACSM encourages continued action to solve these challenges.

Go to https://bit.ly/3hf8Los, for resources and to learn more.

See also: Sell Mental Health and Wellness, Not Exercise


Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA

Shirley Archer, JD, MA, is an internationally acknowledged integrative health and mindfulness specialist, best-selling author of 16 fitness and wellness books translated into multiple languages and sold worldwide, award-winning health journalist, contributing editor to Fitness Journal, media spokesperson, and IDEA's 2008 Fitness Instructor of the Year. She's a 25-year industry veteran and former health and fitness educator at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, who has served on multiple industry committees and co-authored trade books and manuals for ACE, ACSM and YMCA of the USA. She has appeared on TV worldwide and was a featured trainer on America's Next Top Model.

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