Athlete’s Mental Health and Psychological Support

Abstract

　Athletes can experience a number of psychological, physical, and behavioral problems, but if these problems are dealt with appropriately mental health can be well maintained. However, if these problems are not dealt with properly and psychological problems become more serious, they could lead to depression, burnout, and eating disorders. In the worst-case scenario, it may be necessary for the athlete to withdraw from a competition and even consider retirement. Consequently, it is important for athletes to maintain both their mental and physical health to deliver their best competitive performance, and in addition appropriate psychological support is required to maintain and improve the athlete’s mental health. In the field of mental health and psychology, research on psychological approaches to athletes’ mental health is being actively conducted ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In the field of mental health and psychology there is a growing interest in research on mental health issues related to athletic performance, an increase in the number of case studies using mental training to demonstrate methods to increase competitive performance, as well as other sports psychological efforts in preparation for the Olympics. On the sports field, sports mental training instructors, clinical psychologists, and mental health welfare workers are also active. In 2018, an examination to become a Licensed Psychologists was carried out, the first national qualification in psychology. It is expected to play an active role in the field of mental health in the future. This paper focuses on athletes’ mental health, examines related psychological problems and actual case studies and investigates how mental health relates to the field of sportology. The author also plans to collaborate with professionals and athletes in connection with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.