The mental health of elite athletes has long ceased to be an issue that can be addressed solely at an individual level. Performance pressure, injuries, personal changes, constant exposure on social media and the dynamics of sports organizations can all have a profound impact on the well-being of those competing at the highest level. In this context, a new international consensus statement from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) proposes a shift in perspective: protecting athletes’ mental health requires the coordinated involvement of the entire ecosystem around them.
The statement was published in a special edition of the British Journal of Sports Medicine and is the result of an international process led by the IOC, following a consensus meeting held in Lausanne in June 2025. It involved 31 international experts who examined 27 priority areas related to athletes’ mental health and well-being. The document updates the guidelines published in 2019 and proposes moving beyond an approach focused exclusively on diagnosis and treatment toward a model that also prioritizes prevention, well-being, early detection and support for athletes throughout the different stages of their careers.
Mental health as a shared responsibility across elite sport
One of the main points of the new statement is that responsibility for preventing, recognizing and managing mental health problems cannot fall solely on the athlete. The environment in which a sporting career develops plays a significant role: organizations, leaders, coaches, support staff, healthcare professionals and teammates can all help create spaces where talking about mental health is not seen as a sign of weakness or a threat to an athlete’s career. For the IOC, creating such an environment means promoting well-being while also making it easier for those who need help to access it without fear of being judged.
This perspective is particularly relevant given that elite athletes may experience symptoms and mental health disorders at rates similar to or even higher than those observed in the general population, while also facing factors specific to high-level competition. An injury that interrupts years of preparation, constant pressure to achieve results, a major transition in personal or sporting life, exposure to social media and organizational culture can all become additional sources of stress. For this reason, the statement calls for sporting cultures that promote psychological safety, reduce stigma and concerns about confidentiality, and ensure that seeking help is not perceived as a threat to an athlete’s career.
Monitoring, prevention and support throughout an athlete’s career
The recommendations also emphasize the need to introduce regular mental health monitoring, where appropriate and always based on evidence, to identify difficulties before they develop into more serious problems. The proposal is not limited to identifying diagnoses, but seeks to create more continuous support that can recognize changes in athletes’ well-being and allow for timely responses. To achieve this, sports organizations are encouraged to have clear action plans for mental health emergencies and provide individualized care that takes into account cultural differences and each athlete’s particular circumstances.
Support should also not end when an athlete reaches a new stage in their career. The document highlights needs that can arise during key transitions, such as entering elite sport or retirement, and calls for particular attention to adolescent athletes and Paralympic athletes. It also recognizes the close relationship between mental health, injuries and performance, making it necessary for coaches, support staff and healthcare professionals to receive training appropriate to their roles. In this way, mental health becomes part of a support structure that accompanies athletes not only when a crisis occurs, but also throughout periods of preparation, competition, recovery and transition in their sporting careers.
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