Mental health literacy in elite-level coaches: Recognition and management of depression and burnout

Mental health literacy (MHL) plays a key role in shaping attitudes and help-seeking approaches regarding mental health. Elite-level coaches who are well-informed about symptoms of mental ill-health and effective help-seeking can not only better support their own mental health needs but help reduce stigma and promote early intervention for athletes they coach. This study investigated attitudes toward mental health among elite-level coaches, including their ability to recognize symptoms of depression and burnout, views on appropriate sources and methods of support, and perceptions of mental health stigma among coaches and athletes. An online survey with four vignettes depicting coaches and athletes experiencing depression and burnout were presented. An international sample of elite coaches (n = 104 men & 39 women) were asked to identify whether anything was going wrong for the individual, how the individual could be best helped, to rate the appropriateness of various interventions (people/medicines/activities/treatments) and stigma-related questions. Analyses revealed that participants were better at identifying depression than burnout among both coaches and athletes. Participants largely perceived medical/psychological interventions (e.g. talking to a mental health professional) to be more helpful for coaches and athletes experiencing depression, while activity-based interventions (e.g. taking leave) were considered more helpful for burnout. Mental health stigma was also low within the sample. Considering burnout is a risk factor for mental ill-health, future MHL interventions should improve coaches’ knowledge of stressors and symptoms associated with burnout among athletes and coaches. Furthermore, appropriate clinical supports should be promoted for burnout, rather than advocating for time-off exclusively.