The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) has launched a nationwide mental health support service for Australia’s high performance athletes.
The Mental Health Referral Network (MHRN) will provide almost 1,000 AIS-funded athletes with access to 27 AIS-endorsed psychologists and mental health practitioners located across the country.
Director of the Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement Division of AIS, Matti Clements said the MHRN was a crucial initiative.
“We know there has been a critical need to build mental health literacy and support mechanisms so that athletes can easily access help across our high performance sport networks,” Ms Clements said.
“Professional guidance and counselling is crucial for athlete mental health, and that requires immediate access to committed, high quality mental health practitioners.”
She said the MHRN complemented other initiatives the AIS had already launched for athlete support, including funding and embedding a network of Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement managers directly into sports.
“Our ultimate aim is for Australia’s high performance athletes to be their very best in life as well as sport,” Ms Clements said.
Olympic and Commonwealth Games medalist race-walker, Dane Bird-Smith ( pictured), who has dealt with mental health challenges during his sporting career, said sport needed the new services.
“As athletes, we can become so focused on marginal performance gains that we can often ignore the big picture of our holistic health,” Mr Bird-Smith said.
“Mental health awareness can help as much as anything else,” he said.
“My message to athletes is to reach out if you need help. Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re broken, it can actually help break down barriers and stigmas.”
Ms Clements said that athlete wellbeing, including mental health, was one of the key strategic priorities of the National Sport Plan — Sport 2030.
