An International Qualitative Exploration Informing the Development of a National Sport Mental Health Service for Young Athletes

Mental health services designed for young athletes may enhance access to care and deliver more specialised interventions when compared to the general national health service waiting lists. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of experienced leaders in the field of sport psychology and psychiatry regarding the development of a national sport mental health service, including potential barriers and facilitators to seeking help. Interviews were conducted with fifteen sport psychologists and sport psychiatrists working in seven different countries across various sports, and reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data within an interpretive description paradigm. Four main themes emerged: 1) Athlete’s Ecological Environment, 2) Service Strengths and Challenges, 3) Prioritising Athlete Wellbeing, 4) Specific Mental Health Population. Each theme comprised subthemes which provided deeper insight into the viewpoints of these experienced professionals. The findings emphasised the importance of fostering a healthy professional team dynamic that effectively engages with the athlete’s ecological environment, and the potential benefits of having a national sport mental health service. A central focus was the importance of addressing the athlete’s mental health and wellbeing using a client-centred eclectic approach, as this were regarded as critical for optimal performance. This study represented an initial effort to understand the importance of a national sport mental health service in young athletes and served as a foundation for future research in this field.