Support Optimal Health & Wellness
%
of mental health challenges experienced begin in childhood or youth
Participants can experience mental health challenges for a variety of reasons related to on and off the field activities. As the coach, you can create an environment where taking care of one’s mental health is encouraged and supported, making it more likely for your participants to come forward when they need assistance.
Supporting Participant Mental Health
Today’s youth experience stressors from a variety of sources, including their peers, family, school and social media. Within sport, coaches can help to create this safe space by talking openly about mental and emotional health. By adopting this proactive approach to mental health and wellness, you will help your participants develop tools that will enable them to become healthy and resilient adults.
Downloadable Resources:
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Mental Health for Coaches
Burnout from stress is unfortunately an all-too familiar problem for coaches in sport. While coaches dedicate themselves to creating a positive, rewarding and fulfilling sport experience for their participants, they often neglect their own self care in the process. You’re not in the best position possible to help your athlete’s development when you are neglecting your own health and wellness.
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Anxiety
Everyone feels anxious, afraid or stressed. Whether from on field or off field stressors, coaches play a vital role in recognizing signs of distress and supporting youth through these moments so all participants can think more clearly, focus, perform better and ultimately have more fun!
Downloadable Resources:
- Supporting Youth Through Anxious Moments
- Helping Athletes in Distress
- Creating Authentic & Open Conversations with Your Participants
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Disordered Eating & Body Image
Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental illnesses that can affect anyone regardless of gender, age, racial and ethnic identity, sexual orientation or socio-economic background. Research indicates that athletes are two to three times more susceptible to developing an eating disorder than their peers. Coaches have a responsibility to be aware of the symptoms of eating disorders and how they can negatively impact an athlete’s overall health.
Downloadable Resources:
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Learn More:
- Find a Licensed Mental Health Professional in Ontario
- National Eating Disorder Information Centre
- The Canadian Centre for Mental Health and Sport (CCMHS)
- Ontario Community Outreach Program for Eating Disorders
- Webinar – Disordered Eating in Athletes: What You Need to Know (November 10, 2021)
This webinar will provide the knowledge to help you, your participants and parents navigate the sometimes tricky world of eating to fuel performance while developing a healthy relationship with food.
