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Sports and Mental Health Challenges

A statement from the American College of Sports Medicine.

Sports and mental health challenges
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 Eichenberger-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.