Commentary: The Experience of Depression during the Careers of Elite Male Athletes

Currently little is known about the prevalence and etiology of depression in the athletic population (Nixdorf et al., 2015). Almost 75% of mental health difficulties first emerge between the ages of 15 and 25 (Kessler et al., 2005). And arguably the peak years for elite sport performance overlap with the period where the risk of mental health disorders are highest. Given the context of sport and the nature of competition and youth sport, how many coaches, parents and sporting organizations have ever considered this evidence or acted upon it? Sport and mental health have been artificially decoupled due in part to mental health stigma. Mental health stigma is a hurdle that is prevalent in the sport context and one that is particularly challenging in the patriarchal culture of elite sport. This paper draws attention to the poignant issue that men's experience of gender role conflict may be associated with an increased endorsement of stigmatization around mental health concerns (Gulliver et al., 2012). The consequences of mental health stigma include a decreased willingness to refer friends and family members experiencing a mental health concern to access relevant services. Social supports in the form of peers, teammates, coaches, sporting organizations and managers may paradoxically be perceived as linked to stressors. It is plausible that individuals and the organizational culture may be perceived by the individual as putting performance and achieving podium positions ahead of the athlete's well-being. As sporting performance is a key indicator of sporting excellence this may mask individual mental health issues. Arguably, the primacy of performance over the person is a challenge within elite sport. Admitting to a problem is viewed as acknowledging a weakness and this does not fit with the script of the " mentally tough athlete " as the authors propose in their interpretation of an " unhealthy " and " dysfunctional " relationship with sport. As noted by Doherty et al. (2016), public perception tends to hold elite performers in superstar recognition as heroes rather than role models. Success and celebrity unfortunately offer little refuge into the wide area of mental health as recent biographies (e.g., Jonny Wilkinson, Victoria Pendleton) have illustrated (Newman et al., 2016). Three key questions arise. Firstly, is it beneficial for athletes to come out (i.e., public about their episodes) about their experience of depression? Secondly, to what extent does this act of public disclosure encourage other athletes to seek appropriate …