Specialist doctor: 35% of athletes suffer from serious symptoms after retiring
Psychological problems in sport should be treated like an "ankle injury", according to French doctor Vincent Gutibarge, head of the mental health working group at the International Olympic Committee and head of the medical service at the Professional Footballers' Association (FIFPro).
Question: You lead an IOC working group on mental health, what is it made of?
A: “We are working on new scientific data on mental health in high-level sport, on developing materials, medical support for athletes, and on mental health being on the table like physical health and injury. We are still a bit behind. To convince everyone that an ankle injury is as important as a mental injury, that it's not the end of the world. We have to reduce the hype."
Q: Does going out for athletes with difficulties, to speak about the issue publicly, help raise awareness?
A: "Even if it is always sensitive for an athlete, it plays a role in breaking taboos that still exist on the subject. This allows representatives of high-level sport to take responsibility and address this issue, as the International Olympic Committee or FIFPro does."
Q: What are you doing in practice?
A: “We have developed a toolkit to help athletes recognize and develop skills to recognize the onset of mental health disorders not only in themselves, but also in their teammates. By the IOC, after the Tokyo Olympics (where American gymnast Simone Biles was the frontrunner) To claim the golds but gave up a large part of the competitions to preserve her mental and physical health), we increased the number of credits for medical staff for the next Olympics in China (the Winter Olympics held from February 4-20). Athletes+ are particularly concerned with mental health. We will renew this for the Paris 2024 Olympics. One of the recommendations of FIFPro or the IOC is to have a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist in the medical staff, and this is the responsibility of the clubs and federations."
Q: Where do athletes hesitate to mention mild psychological difficulty or more serious psychological difficulty?
A: “As athletes, we are afraid that if we talk about our psychological weaknesses it will have a detrimental effect on a future contract with a club. That is why players are reluctant [to reveal their psychological problems]. It is a taboo and they are more open about it after retiring but athletes are human. Having negative thoughts from time to time is not a big deal, we can do (mathematically) well though.You need to recognize that (mental and emotional distress) as soon as possible so that we can provide better support and prevention, before this becomes a type clinically problematic.
Q: What numbers of athletes have mental health problems?
A: According to the scientific data we collect, between 20 and 35 percent of top-level athletes report negative feelings or thoughts related to depression or anxiety, or problems with eating or sleeping behaviors.
When athletes retire, it is between 25 and 35 percent because of the difficulty of managing the transition.”
Q: Are some countries advanced or late in dealing with this problem in the world of sports?
A: “These taboos are not only specific to sports.
Mental health is also a cultural issue.
Some countries move better than others (to tackle the problem).
Britain, the United States, Canada or Australia are at the top of the ladder (in terms of dealing with this problem).
France can do more than it is currently doing.
I feel it's still a little difficult."
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