The Sports World Is Acknowledging Mental Health Treatment

All Things Performance Looks At the Current Trend

GLENDALE, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / February 1, 2022 / There is an epic pivot happening in the world of sports, and it comes with substantial financial backing, world-renown star power, and never-before-seen coverage. For the first time in history, major sports figures are talking about mental health and introducing talk therapy apps for treatment.

Lebron James has partnered with Calm. Michael Phelps is promoting Talkspace, and Simone Biles is talking about Cerebral.

Josiah Igono, Ph.D., CSCs, and President and Chief Performance Strategist of All Things Performance, says the recent conversations regarding mental health and mental performance are unprecedented. "We are now seeing more vulnerability in this area than at any point in history, particularly with athletes."

Simone Biles's mental health struggles at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo have been instrumental in bringing the discussion of mental toughness and mental health to the forefront. Now many professional sports organizations are looking at their athletic performance in a new light.

All Things Performance says, "traditionally when an athlete is struggling, he or she is told to go and see the "shrink," the team psychologist, who is on the payroll, or to talk with well-intentioned coaches, or people who aren't necessarily qualified. Many players simply do not trust these outlets, so they refrain from using them."

The new mental health apps offer another vehicle for mental health services. They are easy to use and can be accessed through mobile phones. This mode of delivery is appealing to athletes with busy training schedules who may not want to take the time to go to in-person appointments.

And while apps have their appeal, All Things Performance acknowledges that mental health is a complex phenomenon. It's crucial for treatment to address one's biology, psychology, and environment, similar to the model first developed by Dr. George Engel.

Biology may address an athlete's sleep, exercise, hydration, and recovery.

Psychology may include questions like: is the athlete rejuvenating their mind by practicing prayer, meditation, mindfulness, journaling, reading, building self-esteem?

Environment may address the athlete's home life, relationships, and sufficient quiet time needed.

Igono says it's essential to make sure any mental health treatment is thorough and addresses all the relevant areas. He says, "while the advent of apps and the massive endorsements that accompany them are great, it's important for athletes to make sure they are being treated as a whole person with an approach like the bio-psychosocial model. Working with professionals who know how to help athletes with its implementation will add value in more fully restoring balance for athletes."

ABOUT ALL THINGS PERFORMANCE

All Things Performance helps high-level performers establish foundations and frameworks for a powerful mindset. By doing this, performers find purpose, gain clarity, and build confidence as they discover and attack their life‘s work. ATP also helps create mental breakthroughs for athletes who have regressed, plateaued, or who are simply looking for an edge mentally - using some of the most powerful principles in sport & performance psychology. For over 15 years, founder Josiah Igono has been knee-deep in the world of athletics, and has dedicated years to researching mental toughness and its impact on athletes and elite performers. He holds his Doctorate in Performance Psychology and is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). For more information, visit All Things Performance on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. For additional information, visit https://atplions.com.

CONTACT

All Things Performance
602-466-0498
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SOURCE: All Things Performance