Mental Health Challenges: A Comparative Look at Professional Athletes and Everyday People

Recently I have spent time working with Professional Athletes to present mental health fitness programs to jobseekers. These programs are designed to support jobseekers build resilience to stress and conflict to increase their confidence of entering the workforce. Throughout the program, the professional athletes discuss their experiences in sport as well for some, their transition out of sport.

A few big take aways that I have noticed are mental health challenges are universal. Whether you’re a professional athlete who’s used to the spotlight or an everyday person navigating the complexities of daily life, the mental health struggles many people face can be deeply similar, despite the vastly different environments. From stress and anxiety to depression and burnout, both groups can experience significant psychological difficulties. However, the way these challenges manifest and the pressures that accompany them can differ greatly.

1. The Weight of Expectations in Sport and Psychology

Professional Athletes: For athletes, performance is often directly linked to their sense of self-worth. The pressure to succeed at the highest level can be overwhelming, and the intense scrutiny from coaches, teammates, and the media can lead to performance anxiety. In sport psychology, managing expectations is a key area of focus, as high pressure can exacerbate mental health issues like stress, anxiety, and burnout. Athletes may struggle with the psychological burden of meeting public and personal expectations.

Everyday People: Though the pressures may differ, everyday people also face significant mental health challenges related to societal and personal expectations. The pressures to achieve success in work, relationships, and personal goals often mirror the expectations athletes face in their careers. These challenges, though not in the spotlight, can still cause significant stress and lead to mental health struggles such as anxiety and burnout.

Similarities: Both groups experience stress and anxiety from external and internal expectations. Whether in the context of sports psychology or everyday life, the constant pressure to succeed can have long-lasting effects on mental well-being.

2. The Psychological Impact of Identity and Career Transition

Professional Athletes: In sport psychology, identity is often closely tied to an athlete’s sport, and when athletes face retirement, injuries, or career disruptions, they often experience an identity crisis. Losing the title of “athlete” can cause confusion, sadness, and even depression. Understanding and adapting to life after sports is a key area in sports psychology, as athletes often struggle to redefine their identity without the validation they receive from their careers.

Everyday People: Similarly, identity crises also affect non-athletes, especially during career changes, major life transitions, or the end of significant relationships. These transitions can lead to mental health struggles like depression and existential anxiety. Sport and psychology principles can help everyday people navigate these transitions, especially when identity is tied to work or societal roles.

Similarities: Both athletes and everyday people experience a loss of self-worth during major life transitions. While athletes may have a more public and dramatic identity shift, the psychological challenges related to change are deeply human and shared across contexts.

3. Stress and Anxiety: The Mental Health Struggles of High Performance

Professional Athletes: Professional athletes face unique stressors, including performance pressure, fear of failure, and the constant drive to push physical limits. In the realm of sport psychology, understanding how to manage stress, anxiety, and burnout is crucial to an athlete’s long-term success. Athletes often experience chronic stress from the fear of injury, underperformance, and the mental strain of living up to public expectations. Sport psychology interventions can help athletes develop mental resilience, focusing on cognitive strategies like mindfulness and visualization.

Everyday People: For everyday people, the sources of stress and anxiety may stem from work deadlines, family obligations, financial pressures, and social expectations. The fast-paced demands of modern life can cause feelings of overwhelm and constant worry. While not the same as the performance-related anxiety of athletes, the overall experience of stress is a shared struggle. Applying principles from sports psychology, such as stress management and resilience-building, can also help individuals manage stress more effectively.

Similarities: Stress and anxiety are prevalent in both professional athletes and everyday people. While the sources may differ, both groups benefit from psychological tools aimed at managing pressure and maintaining mental well-being. Sport and psychology techniques, such as mental conditioning and coping strategies, can be valuable for both.

4. Breaking the Stigma: Mental Health Support in Sports and Everyday Life

Professional Athletes: Historically, sport and psychology have focused more on the physical aspect of athletic performance, with mental health being somewhat sidelined. However, as more athletes speak out about their struggles, the stigma surrounding mental health in sports is beginning to break down. Mental health support is becoming an essential part of an athlete’s career, with psychologists and counselors becoming integral to managing the psychological demands of professional sports.

Everyday People: Everyday people also face a stigma when it comes to seeking mental health support. Despite the growing awareness of mental health issues, many individuals hesitate to reach out for help due to fear of judgment. The stigma surrounding mental health is something both athletes and non-athletes must overcome to improve well-being. Mental health resources and support systems can make a significant difference in managing mental health challenges.

Similarities: Both athletes and everyday individuals face barriers to seeking help for mental health issues. Whether in sports psychology or general mental health support, reducing stigma and promoting open conversations about mental well-being is vital for both groups.

5. Dealing with Loss, Injury, and Grief

Professional Athletes: For athletes, injuries and career-ending conditions are a significant psychological hurdle. In sport psychology, the focus is on mental resilience and recovering from setbacks, including injuries. The loss of a career due to physical limitations can lead to profound grief, as athletes may feel a deep sense of loss—not just of their profession, but of their entire identity.

Everyday People: For the average person, loss might come in the form of death, a broken relationship, or the loss of a job. The grief associated with any type of loss can be overwhelming and lead to depression and anxiety. Just like athletes, people navigating loss can benefit from therapeutic interventions and psychological tools designed to process grief and rebuild life after loss.

Similarities: Loss is a universal experience, affecting both athletes and everyday people in profound ways. The principles of sports psychology and general counseling methods are highly relevant in helping both groups process grief and emerge stronger.

Mental health challenges, whether experienced by professional athletes or everyday people, share common threads of stress, identity struggles, performance pressure, and the need for psychological support. Both groups can benefit from the tools and techniques found in sport and psychology to build mental resilience, reduce anxiety, and manage stress effectively.

The key takeaway is that mental health is not defined by one’s profession or lifestyle. It is a shared human experience that transcends the world of sports and affects everyone. By engaging with a Psychologist or applying small resilience building behaviours to everyday life and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health, individuals from all walks of life can create a healthier, more balanced mental state and lead fulfilling lives.