DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.31382880
title: Mental health literacy in elite-level coaches: Recognition and management of depression and burnout

description: Mental health literacy (MHL) plays a key role in shaping attitudes and help-seeking approaches regarding mental health. Elite-level coaches who are well-informed about symptoms of mental ill-health and effective help-seeking can not only better support their own mental health needs but help reduce stigma and promote early intervention for athletes they coach. This study investigated attitudes toward mental health among elite-level coaches, including their ability to recognize symptoms of depression and burnout, views on appropriate sources and methods of support, and perceptions of mental health stigma among coaches and athletes. An online survey with four vignettes depicting coaches and athletes experiencing depression and burnout were presented. An international sample of elite coaches (n = 104 men & 39 women) were asked to identify whether anything was going wrong for the individual, how the individual could be best helped, to rate the appropriateness of various interventions (people/medicines/activities/treatments) and stigma-related questions. Analyses revealed that participants were better at identifying depression than burnout among both coaches and athletes. Participants largely perceived medical/psychological interventions (e.g. talking to a mental health professional) to be more helpful for coaches and athletes experiencing depression, while activity-based interventions (e.g. taking leave) were considered more helpful for burnout. Mental health stigma was also low within the sample. Considering burnout is a risk factor for mental ill-health, future MHL interventions should improve coaches’ knowledge of stressors and symptoms associated with burnout among athletes and coaches. Furthermore, appropriate clinical supports should be promoted for burnout, rather than advocating for time-off exclusively. This study found that elite-level coaches were better at identifying depression in athletes and coaches than burnout. Medical/psychological approaches were considered more effective for managing depression, while activity-based interventions were perceived to be more suitable for burnout. Low levels of stigma were present among the sample. Considering burnout is a risk factor for mental ill-health among elite athletes and coaches, elite coaches should receive education on identifying symptoms and management strategies (e.g. seeking professional help) to prevent the onset of mental health crises or disorders.While enhancing mental health literacy among coaches remains necessary for increasing knowledge and reducing stigma around mental health and help-seeking at the individual level, sports organizations should foster psychologically safe environments to support practices (e.g. accessing mental health support, normalizing structured time off) that reduce the risk of burnout and depression. Considering burnout is a risk factor for mental ill-health among elite athletes and coaches, elite coaches should receive education on identifying symptoms and management strategies (e.g. seeking professional help) to prevent the onset of mental health crises or disorders. While enhancing mental health literacy among coaches remains necessary for increasing knowledge and reducing stigma around mental health and help-seeking at the individual level, sports organizations should foster psychologically safe environments to support practices (e.g. accessing mental health support, normalizing structured time off) that reduce the risk of burnout and depression.