Mental Health for High Performance

Sport
Background
Canadian Sport Institute Pacific believes the mental health of our athletes, coaches and
staff is an important component of the high performance sport experience. We endeavor to
continuously develop and support mental health awareness and interventions within the
institute and with our sport partners.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, an increasing number of high
performance athletes struggle with mental health issues such as eating disorders,
substance abuse, anxiety or depression. Unfortunately, many of these athletes may feel
that seeking help for mental or emotional problems may make them appear weak. But it
doesn’t have to be that way.
Mental health can be viewed on a continuum with resilience and thriving on one end of the
spectrum and mental health disorders that disrupt an athlete’s, coach’s or staff’s functioning
and performance at the other. Mental illness tends to rate the highest among young adults
as this time of life can be full of development, life changes and environmental influences
outside of sport and in addition genetic predisposition can also be a precursor to mental
illness (http://www.ncaa.org/sport-science-institute/mental-health-best-practices).
As reported in sport psychiatry research by Reardon and Factor (2010), appropriate
diagnosis and treatment of mental illness in high performance athletes is critical for their
careers and life. Therefore by reducing the stigma attached to mental illness and increasing
awareness in the high performance sport population, we will ultimately help the athletes to
help themselves, continue to work hard and perform at the highest level with enjoyment.
The NCAA sport science institute reports “mental and physical health are inextricably
linked… there is evidence supporting an elevated risk of injury among athletes who
experience anxiety or depression, who abuse alcohol or who have an eating disorder…and
the psychological response to injury has the potential to exacerbate existing vulnerabilities
to depression or anxiety, substance abuse or disordered eating behaviours… insomnia and
sleep disorders can also be an indicator or risk factor for mental health challenges”.
It is important to recognize that in the context of high performance sport, the risk of mental
injury is and always will be present, similarly to the risk of physical injury. We must also
recognize that the athlete environment is not ‘normal’, athletes experience circumstances,
pressures and expectations that are very different from non-athletes. As a result, there can
be a tendency to minimize apparent signs of weakness as well as an expectation to push
through certain challenges to be the fitter, stronger and improving athlete all the time.
Mental health is a key aspect of our athlete, coaches and staff wellness and performance.
Our high performance sport environment can help promote mental health, destigmatize
mental health challenges, normalize seeking care, help with early identification of a mental
health disorder and ensure all receive care from appropriate licensed practitioners. It
support of this CSIPacific with partnering National Sport Organizations encourage the
development of a mental health protocol to ensure the appropriate guidelines for mental
health support are in place.

Objectives
The aim of Mental Health for High Performance Sport is to provide information, resources
and guidelines to increase awareness of mental health in high performance sport in
Canada.
Research findings as well as documented examples of chronic anxiety, depression and
even suicide within the world of high performance sport are quite telling. There is a need for
better acknowledgment and understanding of these conditions and respect for seeking help
on part of both the individual as well as the people around the individual (i.e., coach,
support staff and NSO). It is also widely recognized that there is a lack of research to fully
support mental health information as it pertains to the sport environment and more research
is needed on all psychiatric disorders in athletes (Reardon and Factor, 2010).
In an effort to raise awareness and understanding mental health in high performance sport,
the purpose of this information is to provide information that will meet the following
objectives:

Objective 1
Increase awareness of mental health problems in high performance sport and be better
informed for early identification of mental health problems.

Objective 2
Increase awareness and understanding of the short and long-term impact of mental health
issues for high performing athletes. Recognize the importance of implementing a return to
‘sport/work’ plan to avoid relapse.

Objective 3
Increase awareness of prevention strategies, and resources available for support and
intervention.
Reardon, C.L. & Factor, R.M. (2010). Sport Psychiatry. A Systematic Review of Diagnosis
and Medical Treatment of Mental Illness in Athletes. Sports Med,: 40 (11), 961-980.
Top of Form

Website: https://www.csipacific.ca/services/mental-health/
The Pros and Cons of Youth
Sports Aren’t Only Physical
6 Psychological Risks of Youth Sports
1. Self-esteem is tied to sport performance. Who your child is as a person shouldn’t
be tied closely to the ability to hit home runs or score touchdowns. If it is, that’s a
guaranteed set-up for feelings of failure and low self-esteem. Most young
athletes feel great when they win, but it’s how they handle loss that defines their
long-term character. Remind your sporty kid that she’s always a winner in your
book, even if she loses.
2. Coaches who demoralize and bully. There are more wonderful coaches
than those who do damage, but it would be naïve to expect all coaches to
have your child’s psychological interests at heart. Too often, a win-at-all-
costs mentality devastates young athletes. Be on the lookout for behaviors
that humiliate your child. Does the coach rant and rave at games? Call out
and embarrass players? The best coaches inspire through positive
reinforcement and role modeling, not harassment and bullying.
3. Delusions that sport will provide college scholarships. Too many parents
believe that their child is destined to receive a Division 1 college
scholarship. This is akin to playing the lottery: Don’t bank on it. Putting all
your eggs in the sports basket is misguided and dangerous for your child’s
emotional well-being. In addition to the statistical improbability, there is a
strong chance that an athlete will face a sport-ending injury or simply burn
out. Make sure that your athlete has other interests and doesn’t believe that
sports are the only route to success.
4. Strained relationships with over-invested parents. Have you ever said “we won”
after your child’s game or match? Don’t do it. Too many parents become over-
 invested in their children’s athletic pursuits, which can lead to unconscious
behaviors that will hurt young athletes. I’ve seen parents scream and berate their
children for missing a goal or not winning a race. Love and affection should never
be tied to athletic performance. In fact, children need you most when they fail to
perform well.
5. Unhealthy performance pressure. Sports psychologists are in high demand
because parents, coaches, teams and schools put undue pressure on
young athletes to perform well every time they step on the field, court, or
track. Remember, they’re children, not professional athletes. As a mom to
five competitive tennis players, I understand the inclination to demand
more, but kids are kids. Some days they will miss every serve just
because, and other days they will look like they’re destined for greatness.
Work with them to maintain perspective and understand that it’s only a
game.
6. Inappropriate feelings of superiority. Our society’s obsession with sports
puts a premium on athletes and athleticism, which can imbue young
athletes with an inflated sense of self. Schools and towns may even afford
young athletes privileges and leeway that other students don’t receive.
There are too many instances of successful athletes who thought they
were above the law or the norms of a school. Parents need to be vigilant
for signs that their young athletes lacks humility and empathy. It’s up to us to
make sure that sports don’t bring out the worst in our children.
6 Psychological Benefits of Youth Sports
1. The ability to take criticism and work collaboratively. To help young athletes
improve, coaches must point out mistakes and faulty technique. Learning
to handle this feedback establishes a foundation for adult skill-building and
collaboration. In addition, with their team and coaches, athletes learn the give-
and-take of working together and managing conflict. Research suggests that
athletic girls become women who are better equipped than their non-athletic
counterparts to handle criticism and stress. Effective coaching and competition
can help build internal resources that will serve kids well into adulthood.
2. Self-esteem and efficacy. Skill-building in sport enhances self-esteem,
which carries over into other areas of life. Going from not being able to
make a basket to rarely missing a foul shot can boost a young person’s
ego. Gaining efficacy in one arena, especially when helped by a coach or a
 parent, demonstrates that listening and practicing yield positive results.
This self-awareness helps young athletes make an invaluable connection
between their goals and effort.
3. Acquisition of a work ethic. Sports require effort and commitment, both
traits that serve us well in adulthood. I’ve seen how my children apply the
aptitude for hard work and effort that they acquired in athletics to almost
everything they do in their lives, from hobbies to academic assignments.
Excelling in sport is all about the work we expend, which sets up an
excellent foundation for long-term success.
4. Positive body image. Our contemporary addiction to social media and adulation
of seemingly “perfect”-looking people can wreak havoc on children’s body image.
While not always a perfect antidote, sports can make young athletes feel proud
of their bodies and what those bodies can do. Serena Williams shared that she
was ashamed of her athletic frame until she won a Grand Slam and understood
that her success was tied to her very strong body. Female athletes in particular
have been shown to benefit from positive feelings about their bodies, regardless
of whether they conform to society’s very rigid standards of female beauty.
5. Resilience. Too many tweens and teens are unable to handle the rigors of school.
They are easily overwhelmed and crumble when they do poorly in a class. In
fact, parents often protect their children from defeat by fiercely advocating
for them, doing their homework, and even asking teachers to change poor
grades. Overprotection undermines the development of resilience. Youth
sports provide a nice balance, since parents can’t protect athletes from
defeat and hardship. It’s good for your kids to learn how to both lose and
win.
6. Self-regulation, organization, and time management. Combining sports and school
requires an ability to self-regulate. Getting to practice on time with the proper
equipment helps student-athletes learn to organize themselves and say no to
other activities, such as video games, social media, and excessive socializing.
Learning when to say no is a great skill to carry over to adulthood. Many
Northwestern athletes shared with me that they actually got better grades during
their regular season because they were forced to take a more organized approach
to their schoolwork.
Website: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/more-women-s-work/201705/the-pros-and-cons-
youth-sports-aren-t-only-physical

Today’s society often portrays men as more superior in sports compared to

women. However, this is not always the case.
The number of female athletes at NCAA schools has increased from about 30,000
to over 193,000 since 1972, but women still have many fewer participation
opportunities than men do according to the Women’s Sports Foundation.
Technically, there is no law that states a woman cannot play football. People may
think that only men play football because that’s what is shown on television,
however, this is not the case.
Samantha Blucher is a sophomore at Carlmont and was a kicker for the JV
football team this past season. Her coaches did not cut her any slack because she
is a girl.
“Any workout or running activity the boys had to do, I had to do,” Blucher said.
Even with the stereotype that women can’t play football, a very real barrier of
injuries still exists. A player can easily become hurt during practice or at games
because of the direct contact, particularly if a 140-pound woman is faced against
a 200-pound man. Some possible injuries include fractures, sprains, and
especially concussions.
In 2007, more than 920,000 athletes under the age of 18 were treated in
emergency rooms and clinics for football-related injuries according to the U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission.
“I would play football but I [don’t] have time and I would be worried about injury
risk for soccer,” said Chiara Rigatuso, a sophomore who plays for Carlmont’s
varsity soccer team.
Many people assume only females are cheerleaders as well. Anyone who wants to
cheer can sign up and become a cheerleader. They are only required to be able to
learn skills in dancing, some basic tumbling, and cheering in front of Carlmont
crowds.
People might be discouraged from trying out for the cheer team because of the
costs associated with it. Based on the national average, Omni Cheer states the
cost for one year of high school cheer for a new member is between $700 and
$1000. This includes registration, the uniform, performance and game
accessories, tumbling classes, cheer photos, and summer camp.
When asked about trying out for the cheer team, sophomore Harrison De Voy
said, “I would not do that because even if I wanted to, it’s too expensive.”
Because of the stereotype that males only play football and females only cheer,
many people get scared to do something out of the ordinary.
“I was super nervous and uncomfortable because I felt like all the boys were going
to judge me,” said Blucher.
On Aug. 30, 2001, college sophomore Ashley Martin became the first woman to
play and score in a Division 1 football game. Martin was the kicker for
Jacksonville State University and scored a total of three extra points during the
game. She had kicked at her high school for two years, so she had prior
knowledge and experience of the game.
In an interview with ABC News on her teammates, Martin said, “They have
always been very supportive… they have become my friends and brothers.”
At least two other women have been on Division 1 football teams. Kathy Klop was
on the University of Louisville team in 1995 and Katie Hnida was on the Colorado
University team in 1999, but neither woman played. The only other woman to
previously score in a college football games was Liz Heaston who kicked two extra
points in 1997 for Willamette University.
Simon Tara, a sophomore and previous member of the Carlmont JV football
team, explains how Blucher was a team player and how she helped make the team
better.
“I think she was a great contribution to the team because we lacked special teams
capabilities,” said Tara.
The Women’s Sports Foundation was founded in 1974. It is an organization that
supports female athletes. They provide grants and scholarships, popular
programs for girls provided with inadequate service, and groundbreaking
research.
Mother Jones News Organization states that girls’ athletic opportunities still have
not reached the level that boys were at back when Title IX of the Education
Amendments Act of 1972 passed. It is a federal law that states: “No person in the
United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be
denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education
program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
Title IX ensures equal access to both men and women in educational programs
and activities that are funded.
Even though some people think only males play football and only females cheer,
people have the opportunities to do whatever they want. It’s up to them if they
take the big step and choose to do what they love.
Tara said, “I think other girls should try out for the football team because they
should follow their passion and shouldn’t be discouraged by others’ opinions.”

Website: https://scotscoop.com/gender-stigma-plays-a-role-in-sports/’

An in-depth look at the gender

wage gap issue in sports
Key historical moments, present-day issues, and what should happen
By

Andrew Ringer

February 2, 2019

The gender wage gap has been a much-discussed topic for many years now.
While there is still a ways to go, many industries have improved in making sure
that men and women who hold similar positions are paid equally. One industry
that often gets forgotten in this discussion, however, is the one of professional
sports.
There are a lot of factors at play, and a lot of opinions on the subject.
Nonetheless, there are clear instances in sports where women are not given an
equal proportion of league earnings compared to men. We decided to take a
deeper look at the gender wage gap in sports, its history, and what can be
expected in the future.
History

Discussing the wage gap in sports is not new. For example, the 2017 movie
Battle of the Sexes tells the tale of Billie Jean King, who famously fought for the
equal pay of female tennis players. As reported by The Guardian, King took
home only £750 for winning the 1968 Wimbledon tournament, barely more than
a third of what the men’s winner won.

A few years later, King was involved in one of the most famous tennis matches
of all time. After 55-year-old Bobby Riggs (who had been the number-one male
tennis player in his prime) claimed that he could defeat any female tennis
opponent, King swept him 3–0 in 1973. The win was a huge moment for
women’s sports and had a positive impact on the Women’s Tennis Association,
which had been founded by King a few months prior to the match.

More recently, Venus Williams made strides towards getting equal pay for
women in tennis. In 2007, she became the first women champion to make as
much as the men’s champion at a major tennis open. Today, tennis is one of
the few sports recognized for paying both men and women equally.

The United States women’s national soccer and hockey teams have also made
strides towards equal pay in their respective sports. In 2015, the U.S. women’s
soccer team won the World Cup championship and was awarded $2 million after
playing in the soccer game with the most American viewers ever. The U.S.
men’s team, on the other hand, was awarded $8 million for losing in the first
knockout round the year before in the men’s World Cup.

That’s right: the men earned four times as much for losing as the women did for
being world champions.

After launching a complaint, the women’s team reached a new labour deal in
2017 with U.S. soccer which will see them be given major raises, bigger
bonuses, and equal per diems to the men’s team’s.
Similarly, the U.S women’s hockey team has seen an increase in pay in recent
years. After threatening to sit out the International Ice Hockey Federation World
Championship in 2017, the U.S national women’s hockey team signed a four-
year labour agreement with USA Hockey. Details of the agreement were not
released, but it likely resembled the $68,000 annual salary that they asked for,
as well as benefits like playing in more games, childcare, and maternity leave.
While these are just a few instances, they show that fair increases in pay are
possible in women’s sports, and should be expected across all major sports.

Today
While there have been some success stories in making sure that women
athletes are paid fairly, there is still quite a ways to go.

This is particularly true in professional basketball, where the wage gap is most
apparent. For example, the number-one overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft,
A’ja Wilson, will make approximately 1/130 of what the first overall pick in the
NBA draft, Deandre Ayton, is set to make–$52,664 compared to $6.8 million.
Those who try to point this out, however, are met with arguments based on
how much more money the NBA makes compared to the WNBA.
While this would be a valid argument if WNBA players earned a similar cut of
their leagues revenues, this is simply not the case. According to an article by
Grandstand Central, the NBA pays 50% of its revenues towards player salaries,
while the WNBA pays a measly 20% towards its players.

These numbers just don’t add up. WNBA players are unproportionately paid.
Plus, the league is growing. The 2017 season saw 1,574,078 people attend a
WNBA game, the highest total attendance for the league. Also, 2017 saw an
18% increase in WNBA store purchases from the previous year.
So, while the billionaire owners of the league may complain about “losing
money,” the league is showing that it can be profitable. Still, leagues like the
NBA should be responsible for promoting their female counterpart.

If you’ve watched sports channels recently, you’ve likely seen the Wealthsimple
commercialthat features WNBA star Skylar Diggins-Smith. In this commercial,
she discusses how an average NBA prospect can make up to 100 times what a
superstar makes in the WNBA. This issue is starting to be seen by everybody.
WNBA players should expect to earn the 50% of league revenues that NBA
players do. Doing so could see up to a 2.5x salary increase for players across
the league.
While this case is far from over, hopefully this will go down as another
movement towards equal gender pay across professional sports. To ensure that
women athletes earn fairer wages, however, they need support. Not just
support on Twitter or other social media platforms, but fans who go to their
games and buy their merchandise.
The closest professional women’s teams to us are the Seattle Storm (who play
in the WNBA) and the Reign FC (who play in the National Women’s Soccer
League), and have recently announced a move to Tacoma, Washington. The
Storm are the defending WNBA champions and start their season off in May,
while Reign FC will begin their season in April.
Website: https://the-peak.ca/2019/02/an-in-depth-look-at-the-gender-wage-gap-issue-in-sports/
More than 22 million fans attended an NBA game this season, establishing a new record for
total attendance. The average attendance per game of 17,987, was also the highest NBA
regular season average of all-time.
Website: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/12/nba-has-baller-season-attendance-ratings-merchandise-
see-huge-uptick.html

The average NBA ticket price for the 2018 – 2019 season is up 14.01% from the average ticket
price of $78.00 during the 2015 – 2016 season. NBA ticket prices on the secondary market for
the 2018 – 2019 season are up 27.14% since the average ticket price of $70.00 per ticket
during the 2016-2017 NBA season
Website: https://www.barrystickets.com/blog/nba-ticket-prices/

WNBA games averaged 7,716 fans per game in 2017, the highest number in six years but far
from a significant improvement. WNBA games haven't averaged 8,000 fans per game since
2009, and the 2017 figure was down 28.9 percent from the league's all-time high attendance in
1998, which was the WNBA's second season.
Website: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/04/20/adam-silver-one-of-the-
wnbas-problems-is-that-not-enough-young-women-pay-attention-to-it/?noredirect=on HYPERLINK
"https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/04/20/adam-silver-one-of-the-wnbas-
problems-is-that-not-enough-young-women-pay-attention-to-
it/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.308b4b39a6d4"& HYPERLINK
"https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/04/20/adam-silver-one-of-the-wnbas-
problems-is-that-not-enough-young-women-pay-attention-to-
it/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.308b4b39a6d4"utm_term=.308b4b39a6d4

According to the ticket prices reported at WNBA.com, the average minimum ticket price for the
WNBA's teams in 2018 is $17.42
Website: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidberri/2018/07/09/why-isnt-the-michael-jordan-of-the-
wnba-paid-at-least-as-well-as-adonis-jordan-was/