We spoke to Dr Emma Kavanagh, a Reader in Sport Psychology at Loughborough and Lead Psychologist for Team England, about the need to embrace the emotions that come with elite performance rather than suppress them. From managing pressure and navigating social media, to creating psychologically safe environments, her message is clear: mental wellbeing is a critical component of sporting success.
“There's this feeling that elite athletes are able to cope all the time with everything. And of course they train to be able to do that, but they're also human. So, part of that is not removing emotion from what they do, but being able to roll with it, to use it when we want it most, to harness it, and to use it to drive our successes.
“Sport often sparks the conversation to be more open about what mental health is. We know that in demanding situations, it can ask more of us. We train our team and our mental health champions to notice what our teammates are going through and to be able to respond appropriately so that they are supported when it matters most.
“Online environments, such as social media, have been one of the fundamental changes that we've seen in elite sport over the last 10 years. Athletes sharing their stories and being able to create an immersive experience - that connection is such an important part of being a performer. We have to help them to manage it, to get the best out of those platforms. Athletes need to be able to use them but also be able to switch off and create space from them.
“Safeguarding and psychological safety is also a critical feature of elite sport. It's part of the conversation and needs to be part of every element of planning, to ensure we are creating, fostering and sustaining safer environments. Team England really prioritizes environments, spaces and relationships that are psychologically safe and enable people to feel supported at every stage of the journey.”
ENDS
