The need to screen for mental health disorders in elite athletes

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Sports medicine

The need to screen for mental health disorders in elite athletes

Steve Targett

Steve Targett

Football
The SMHAT-1 was preliminarily validated among professional footballers in Australia, with the intention to perform further studies in other sports and cultures [Image: Emilio Garcia on Unsplash]

Sports physician Steve Targett looks at two new tools that enable mental health symptoms and disorders in elite athletes to be recognised earlier than they otherwise would

Key points, The International Olympic Committee recommends screening for mental health symptoms and disorders in elite athletes and recently developed the two-ste, Pract Green w Pale Yellow
References

1. Reardon CL, Hainline B, Aron CM, et al. Mental health in elite athletes: International Olympic Committee consensus statement (2019). Br J Sports Med 2019;53(11):667–99.

2. Gouttebarge V, Bindra A, Blauwet C, et al. International Olympic Committee (IOC) Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool 1 (SMHAT-1) and Sport Mental Health Recognition Tool 1 (SMHRT-1): towards better support of athletes’ mental health. Br J Sports Med 2021;55(1):30–37.