Sport is more than just how well you perform technically – it is how it makes you feel when your body and mind are in sync. Being physically active brings multiple benefits to your mental well-being, just as much as it does to your physical well-being. Almost every day we hear about the importance of mental health in sport. In our Safe Sport Action Plan, we are committed to ensuring that all participants enjoy volleyball that is safe and beneficial to physical and mental well-being. Here are some resources to help you understand and feel supported in your mental health and wellness. 

MENTAL HEALTH VERSUS MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS

Mental health in sport is as important as physical health. But what does “mental health” mean and how does it differ from “mental health disorders” or “Mental illness”?

MENTAL HEALTH

Mental Health is a state of wellbeing in which every individual  realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can perform productively, and is able to make a contribution to her or his (sporting) community.  Mental health is personal and subjective, and includes:

  • a sense of internal well-being 
  • feeling in line with one’s own values and beliefs 
  • feeling at peace with oneself 
  • feeling positive and optimistic about life

From a youth’s point of view, mental health means…

  • I feel like I have things to live for
  • I feel that people care about me
  • I feel hopeful and good about the future
  • I feel in control of my life
  • I’m satisfied or happy with life
  • I like myself

MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS

Mental Health Disorders are clinically diagnosed conditions which produce significant and persistent changes in a person’s thinking, emotions and/or behaviours that are associated with significant distress and/or disability in social, occupational or other important activities, like learning, training or competition. Major mental illnesses include anxiety, mood, eating and psychotic disorders.

From a youth’s point of view, mental health disorders can mean some or all of the following…

  • I feel sad, irritable, worried or angry a lot
  • I don’t like myself
  • I feel powerless, and not in control of my life
  • I feel that others don’t care about me
  • I don’t feel good about the future

key concept: mental health is a continuum

This model recognizes that mental health is not black and white. The model goes from healthy, adaptive coping (green), through mild and reversible distress (yellow), to more severe, persistent injury or impairment (orange), to clinical illnesses and disorders requiring more concentrated medical care (red).

The arrows under the four color blocks show that there can be movement in both directions along the continuum. In this way, no one is ‘written off’ simply because they are showing symptoms of an illness. It also recognises  that the earlier that intervention is provided, the easier it is to return to full health and functioning (green). Therefore, it is important to improve understanding and awareness of mental health symptoms and disorders, to recognise the signs, and to create a culture that supports seeking help.

Mental health and mental illness are dynamic constructs. People’s levels of mental health and mental illness can fluctuate at any point in time across the four quadrants depicted on the left.  An athlete can be mentally healthy, may have a mental health disorder, or may be in-between. Athletes experiencing a mental health disorder can recover and have periods of optimum mental health, while athletes without mental health symptoms or disorders can experience times of poor mental health, such as feeling stressed or overwhelmed.

Optimal functioning is a state of complete mental health whereby individuals are flourishing without a mental illness. However, this does not mean that people with a mental illness cannot reach optimal levels of functioning and the highest levels of performance in sport. What is most important is that individuals get the right support to achieve their performance and mental health. 

Sources

STRESSORS IN VOLLEYBALL

Playing volleyball can be an amazing way to manage stress and boost your mood. However, sport can also bring stressors that may contribute to poor mental well-being.

What are key stressors? Key stressors for participants in sport can be split into three categories: competitive stress, organisational stress and personal stress. These three categories are not exclusive and can have knock-on effects or impacts on other categories. 

Competitive stress  – these are the demands we place on ourselves to achieve competitive performance. Some of this pressure is self-imposed but pressure can also come from outside sources, most critically from coaches.

During the tournament season, performance anxiety can be a huge issue. Check out our useful handouts for how to manage these feelings. : 
Players – Performance Anxiety
Coaches Handout – Performance Anxiety
Referee Handout – Stress in Tournaments

Personal stress  –  factors to do with our “non-sporting” life can bring stress, such as a challenging workload, lack of sleep, or stress at school. In last year’s Annual Survey, over XXX% of you said that you experienced

Organisational stress – these stressors are associated primarily with the sport organisation or team in which you belong. For example, the stronger your team identity or “bond”, the harder it can feel for you to express ways that you may feel differently which may in turn create stress and pressure to conform.

Emerging adults, students and student-athletes have all been recognized as groups at risk of developing and struggling with mental health disorders and distress.