Mental Health in Elite Sport: The Invisible Load Athletes Carry
- Leilanie Pakoa
- Jun 12
- 5 min read
When you think of elite athletes, you probably picture grit, determination, early mornings, long hours of training, and an unshakeable mindset. And you’d be right—these are the traits that drive performance, shape success, and build champions.
But what we don’t often talk about is how those very same traits—discipline, high standards, self-control—can also weigh heavily on an athlete’s mental health.
In elite sport, the expectation is to be ‘on’ all the time. Ready to push. Ready to win. Ready to sacrifice. What we don’t always see is the mental load behind that: the fear of failure, the perfectionism, the pressure to perform, and the difficulty in letting someone in when things feel overwhelming.
The Unseen Mental Load in Elite Sport
Elite athletes are no strangers to pressure. Whether it’s fighting for a spot on the team, performing under a national spotlight, or recovering from injury, the stakes are high—and so is the stress.
Research shows that athletes are just as likely to experience mental health concerns as the general population—sometimes more so—yet they are less likely to seek help due to stigma, performance culture, and fear of vulnerability (Purcell et al., 2020).
These concerns aren’t always dramatic or visible. Sometimes they look like sleep difficulties, persistent worry, loss of motivation, or a harsh inner critic that won’t quiet down. Other times, they’re hidden behind relentless training or masking emotions just to get through the day.
Traits That Serve—and Strain—Mental Health
What makes someone a great athlete can also make mental health more fragile. Traits like:
Perfectionism – the drive to be flawless, often paired with harsh self-evaluation
Discipline and routine – helpful in training, but sometimes rigid and anxiety-inducing when plans change
High internal expectations – “I should be able to handle this,” “I can’t show weakness”
Avoidance of emotional expression – especially in high-performance environments where toughness is praised
When these traits go unchecked, they can contribute to anxiety, burnout, and feeling emotionally isolated. A recent review in Sports Medicine confirms that the prevalence of mental health symptoms in elite athletes—including anxiety and depression—is comparable to, or higher than, the general population (Gouttebarge et al., 2023).
The Fear of Letting Someone In
For many athletes, the idea of speaking with a psychologist can feel foreign—or even scary.
It makes sense. You’re trained to keep moving, to push through, to self-manage. Letting someone see the vulnerable parts of your experience might feel like breaking your own rules.
You might think:
“What if they don’t get it?”
“If I open up, will it affect my selection or status?”
“I don’t have time to deal with this.”
These are valid fears. But talking to a psychologist isn’t about labelling or fixing. It’s about understanding. Creating space. And making the invisible load a little lighter.
Sometimes, just saying things out loud in a space where you don’t have to have it all together is enough to shift the weight.
Why Talking Helps
There’s growing evidence that psychological support improves not just wellbeing, but performance too. A study by Rice and colleagues (2025) found that sport-specific mental health interventions not only reduced distress but also enhanced confidence and self-regulation in athletes.
Speaking to a psychologist can help athletes:
Recognise unhelpful patterns in thinking (e.g., rigidity, black-and-white thinking)
Develop tools for managing performance anxiety
Build psychological flexibility to adapt to setbacks
Improve emotional literacy and coping strategies
Reconnect with values and motivation beyond outcomes
And perhaps most importantly, it helps athletes remember they are more than their performance.
Starting the Conversation
So how do we start shifting the culture? How do we make it safer for athletes to speak up?
Normalise struggle – High performance and mental distress can co-exist. Struggling doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means you’re human.
Coaches and staff set the tone – Coaches who speak openly about mental health and model help-seeking create a safer space for athletes to do the same.
Make support visible and accessible – Include information about available psychologists in inductions, handbooks, and team meetings.
Check in beyond performance – Ask questions like, “How are you going really?” or “What’s been hard lately?” to open doors for deeper conversations.
Watch for signs – Withdrawal, irritability, poor sleep, low mood, and reduced focus can all be signs that something is off.
If you’re looking for a place to start, the Australian Institute of Sport offers mental health referral networks and support pathways. For general mental health support, Beyond Blue has fantastic resources tailored to athletes and young people.
Final Thoughts
High performance doesn’t mean you have to go it alone.
The traits that make you great—your drive, focus, work ethic—don’t have to come at the expense of your wellbeing. In fact, when those traits are supported with flexibility, emotional awareness, and the right help, you become even more powerful.
If any part of this resonated with you—if you’re carrying a backpack full of pressure, fear, or perfectionism—you don’t have to wait until it feels unmanageable. Speaking to a psychologist can be one of the most strategic and strength-based choices you make for your mental game.
Because you’re not just an athlete. You’re a whole person. And you deserve care, too.
Helpful Links & Resources
AIS Mental Health Referral Network
Headspace Elite Sport Resource Hub
Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support)
References (APA 7th)
Breslin, G., Shannon, S., Haughey, T. J., Donnelly, P., & Leavey, G. (2017). A systematic review of interventions to increase awareness of mental health and well-being in athletes. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 6(1), 80–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2016.06.001
Gouttebarge, V., Bindra, A., Blauwet, C., Campriani, N., Gorczynska, M., Hainline, B., ... & Rice, S. (2023). Mental health symptoms among elite athletes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 53(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-023-01912-2
Henriksen, K., Schinke, R., Moesch, K., McCann, S., Parham, W. D., Larsen, C. H., & Terry, P. (2019). Consensus statement on improving mental health literacy in elite sport. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 17(6), 554–565. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2019.1570473
Purcell, R., Gwyther, K., & Rice, S. M. (2020). Mental health in elite athletes: Increased awareness requires an early intervention framework to respond to athlete needs. Sports Medicine - Open, 6(1), 46. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-020-00254-7
Rice, S. M., Gwyther, K., Mengersen, K., Tiller, J., Gorczynska, M., & Purcell, R. (2025). Implementation and evaluation of athlete-informed mental health interventions in elite sport. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2025.2462551Reardon, C. L., Hainline, B., Aron, C. M., Baron, D., Baum, A. L., Bindra, A., ... & Engebretsen, L. (2019). Mental health in elite athletes: International Olympic Committee consensus statement. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 53(11), 667–699. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2019-100715
Timpka, T., Junge, A., Mountjoy, M., & Engebretsen, L. (2022). Athlete mental health protection requires implementation of early warning systems. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 8(1), e001249. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2021-001249
Uphill, M., Sly, D., & Swain, J. (2016). From mental health to mental wealth in athletes: Looking back and moving forward. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 935. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00935
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