SUNDAY 4 AUGUST 2019

Sport still has a long way to go

in field of mental health

Perceptions are changing, athletes are speaking out, the stigma is slowly fading. But there’s still more to be done (Dilruba Tayfun)

SAMUEL LOVETT

As with so many aspects of modern sport, huge progress has been made over the past decade in challenging
the stigma surrounding mental health. From the Football Association’s recent ‘Heads Up’ initiative to rugby
league’s dedicated ‘State of Mind’ weekend, doors have been flung open in raising awareness and
encouraging transparency. With sporting bodies and charities working hard to create a space that promotes
positive mental health, athletes are coming to see there is no shame in admitting to struggling and accessing
help.

The approach is slowly paying off. Across the sporting community, more and more athletes – both past and

Sport /Sporting Mind series