Position paper: sports psychiatric care provision in competitive sports

Abstract

Mental stress and illness are common health problems in competitive sports that can reduce performance and have effects beyond the end of a career as sport-specific and unspecific disorders. The promotion of mental health and safe handling of mental problems and illnesses require appropriate education and train-ing. However, child, adolescent and adult psychiatrists with specific expertise in competitive sports (sports psychiatrists) are not yet an integral part of the structure of medical care provision in competitive sports. This position paper gives an overview about existing care structures in competitive sports for the promotion of mental health, and investigated them with proposals for the further development of sports psychiatric care in competitive sports. Sports physicians, sports psychiatrists, as well as interdisci-plinary and interprofessional collaboration, are at the center of mental health efforts in competitive sports. Further aspects that will be discussed are the education and training of athletes and the environment in competitive sports, as well as the promotion of coaches’ health. Key Words: Elite sports, Prevention, Mental health problems and disorders, Sports psychiatry, Sports Medicine