Perceptions of young athletes on a national sports mental health service and the sport-mental health intersection in Malta

A lack of sports mental health services for young athletes has been reported. This study analyzed young athletes’ perceptions on a national sports mental health service, including their views on the sport-mental health intersection. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with fourteen athletes (R = 14-21 years, M = 17.79) and data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three overarching themes were constructed: 1) Sport and mental health - A connected dynamic, 2) The athlete’s ecosystem, 3) A specialized service for athletes. Athletes reported therapeutic benefits in mental health and athletic experience. They perceived the sport-mental health connection to be significant and appreciated the specialized approach compared to general services. Athletes underscored the influence of the athlete ecosystem and felt that therapeutic efforts should extend within this sphere. This study offers the first known documented qualitative evidence on the topic aiming to inform service development and national health policy.