Behind every missed shot, every trophy, and every roaring crowd, many athletes are silently fighting battles nobody can see.
While the conversations around mental health in sports have grown over the years, many athletes still face stigma when speaking openly about their problems.
In elite sports, athletes are generally described as mentally tough individuals, accustomed to working through physical pain and hiding their mental struggles.
Especially sportsmen, who are usually portrayed as strong, masculine, and resilient, experience battles in their minds but sometimes seem afraid to publicly speak about these issues because of the perception this topic still has amongst society.
However, the silence surrounding mental health in sport is beginning to break as a rising number of athletes have started to speak out and transform the culture and societal stereotypes.
Notably, the NBA has turned into one of the biggest initiators amongst professional sports leagues worldwide in addressing mental health. In 2018, the league established a programme dedicated to reducing the stigma of mental illness and providing resources for players, coaches, staff, and referees.
Players like Kevin Love, DeMar DeRozan, or the Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo revealed their stories and became prominent mental health advocates.
Their honesty and powerful stories have led not just in how the league handles mental wellness nowadays but also in debunking myths regarding mental health, emphasising the importance of vulnerability, and asking for help when needed.
In an exclusive interview, John Creigan, founder & lead counsellor of MEN TALK TOO, a counselling service for men in Brighton, also highlighted the significance of mental health in sports: “Mental health started being taken a lot more seriously recently. I think it is, in some ways, as important as their fitness because physical fitness is clearly important for these athletes. But if they are struggling mentally, then they surely cannot use all that work that they have been putting into themselves physically.”
While the NBA and its stars push for more support, promote destigmatisation of mental health struggles, and encourage other athletes and society in general to prioritise their minds as well as their bodies, millions of fans still harshly mock athletes when they have bad games or miss a crucial shot.
Even though some of them are just internet trolls and cynics, labelling athletes as soft or weak does not help the overall conversation regarding this matter.
The media, pundits, and former players have frequently criticised players about mental health in recent years, which stems from a disconnect between the older generation that adheres to traditional mental toughness and the current generation of players who champion mental wellness.
Players in the NBA earn more money than ever before, the facilities offer the world’s most modern equipment but, even despite their wealth, status, or fame, many of them appear to struggle in their social life.
A report from the University of California showed that social media can negatively impact people’s overall wellbeing by fuelling anxiety, depression, loneliness, and FOMO (fear of missing out).
Athletes have constant access to opinions, thoughts, comments and people watching what they are doing from all over the world. At any moment, players can just look on their phone and see all these things. I think social media has just added another layer for people to be concerned about and put energy into. I am not sure if we really know the full impact of social media, but I think being aware that it is probably adding to an already high-pressured life of especially younger athletes, said Creigan.
Despite the negative effects social media can cause, it also serves as a great tool in sharing information and inspiring through personal experiences. In particular, athletes who are seen as role models are often trusted more than others, likely due to their popularity and fans they have.
A report from The Conversation showed that between 2021 and 2025, NFL, MLB, and NBA teams made 258 social media posts advocating for mental health funding, education and policy. The number of posts increased each year.
A study from Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board demonstrates that talking about mental health lowers feelings of isolation and effectively reduces the stigma.
It’s worth starting to talk to a few people I trust, where I can make mistakes and look “awkward”. This will make me feel less lonely and more open and give me the courage to experience myself in a different light. Communication about mental health should be approached in small doses and treated as a non-committal experiment,” said Monika Rusnáková, therapist & specialist focusing on mental health difficulties.
“It sends that message out that things may happen that are out of your control and you may feel certain things, and if they are impacting you, there are places you can go and get some support. I think people that do decide to go public, say what they have gone through and shed some light on the fact that others might be thinking that, and that takes a lot of courage to do that,” said Creigan.
Seeing ambition from clubs and players themselves to change the culture is what could eventually redefine the perception society has and break the stigma once and for all. Revealing emotions is a strength, specifically when it comes to sportsmen performing on the biggest stage under immense pressure.
“There is progress mainly in the openness toward the topic itself, as well as in the growing number of public figures, experts, and even everyday athletes who inspire others with their personal stories,” said Rusnáková.