Abstract:
Elite athletes and their entourage are exposed to intense stressors and commonly experience mental health symptoms and disorders. While there is limited literature on prevalence rates in a South African setting, initial data show that both current and retired athletes may experience these symptoms, but with low treatment rates. There is a need to improve mental health literacy and mental health care in athletes. Athletes may benefit from systematic mental health surveillance and additional screening during high-risk periods, such as injury or retirement. This commentary brings athlete mental health into focus and advocates for the inclusion of sport and exercise psychiatry into the athlete entourage and broader mental health team, in order to close the treatment gap. We provide seven recommendations for the initial way forward for sport and exercise psychiatry in South Africa.
摘要:
精英运动员及其随行人员面临着强烈的压力,通常会出现心理健康症状和障碍。虽然关于南非地区患病率的文献有限,初步数据显示,现役和退役运动员都可能出现这些症状,但治疗率低。有必要提高运动员的心理健康素养和心理健康护理。运动员可能会在高风险时期受益于系统的心理健康监测和额外的筛查,比如受伤或退休。这篇评论将运动员的心理健康纳入焦点,并倡导将运动和运动精神病学纳入运动员随行人员和更广泛的心理健康团队,以缩小治疗差距。我们为南非运动和运动精神病学的初步发展提供了七项建议。