-
More athletes are seeking mental health support in Australia

The Xinhua reported, according to a report released on Tuesday that an unprecedented number of Australian athletes, their coaches and other sports-related staff are seeking support for their mental health.
The report from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) noted that referrals for its Mental Health Referral Network (MHRN), which consists of more than 60 psychologists and health clinicians, soared from 264 in 2020 to 444 last year.
Sports authorities noted that the 68 percent surge in demand for the MHRN coincided with a turbulent year for many elite athletes who had to train for the Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing while being hampered by restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
AIS research among the nation's 2,500 high-performance athletes showed one in three were dealing with mental health or wellbeing concerns.

AIS Acting CEO Matti Clements said there were many reasons people sought mental health support including for their "relationships, transition in and out of sport, training, anxiety, sleep, nutrition and just general wellbeing".
"The pleasing thing for the AIS is that people in sport are more aware of the support available and are more willing to reach out for it," Clements said, adding that "we want to encourage more coaches and past athletes to seek this support."
Australia partners with Indonesia to tackle Indo-Pacific pollution
As part of its commitment to help athletes, the AIS will conduct its "Mental Health Audit" in May, a survey held every two years to help guide future services and support.
Clements said: "Some people may think 'this doesn't apply to me; I'm not impacted by mental health or wellbeing issues right now'," addig that "But every person's participation is important."
Heavy rain batters Australia's east coast, tens of thousands flee their homes
"The more views we get from people across elite sport, the better we can provide for everyone's needs."
Source: xinhua
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!