Association of mental health help-seeking with mental health-related knowledge and stigma in Japan Rugby Top League players

Abstract

Background Globally increasing clinical and research interests are driving a movement to promote understanding and practice of mental health in elite athletes. However, few studies have yet addressed this issue. This study aims to describe the association of the intention to seek help with mental health knowledge and stigma and the severity of depressive symptoms in Japan Rugby Top League players. Methods As a target population, we studied 233 Japan Rugby Top League male players (25–29 years = 123 [52.8%]), who were born in Japan, using a cross-sectional design. Surveys were conducted using anonymous, web-based self-administered questionnaires. Structural equation modelling was performed to evaluate the hypothesis of an interrelationship between mental health knowledge, stigma, and severity of depressive symptoms as factors influencing the intention to seek help. Results Players with more severe depressive symptoms were more reluctant to seek help from others (β = - 0.20, p = 0.03). Players with greater knowledge about mental health tended to have less stigma toward others with mental health problems (β = 0.13, p = 0.049), but tended not to seek help with their own mental health problems. Conclusions Rugby players in need of mental health support, even with greater knowledge, tend not to seek help from others, while having less stigma toward people with mental health problems. Rugby players might require approaches other than a knowledge-based educational approach to encourage them to seek help.

Mental health help-seeking preferences and behaviour in elite male rugby players

“…Based on this position, elite athletes are more likely to miss opportunities to talk about their mental ill health inside and outside the team and may become isolated if they have mental healthcare needs. Our previous research has shown that even elite athletes with greater mental health knowledge may feel unable to seek help when they experience poor mental health status 26. It is necessary to create a psychologically safe environment inside and outside of the team so that athletes can talk about themselves, including their mental health concerns 24 27…”

“…Our previous research has shown that even elite athletes with greater mental health knowledge may feel unable to seek help when they experience poor mental health status. 26 It is necessary to create a psychologically safe environment inside and outside of the team so that athletes can talk about themselves, including their mental health concerns. 24 27 …”

“…A lack of mental health knowledge is considered one of the main barriers preventing elite athletes from seeking help 20 21 25. Recently, we found that elite athletes who need mental health support tend not to ask others for help, even if they have greater knowledge,26 suggesting that a psychologically safe environment that allows for help seeking is required 24 26 27. Mental health-related stigma, like low mental health literacy, is also a common barrier to elite athletes seeking mental health treatment 20 21…”

Supporting The Mental Health Of Elite-Level Coaches Through Early Intervention

“… 10 Coaches may neglect treatment because of the common misperception that help-seeking is incongruous with the ideals of stoicism and mental toughness—misunderstood values that are commonly promoted and glorified in elite sport. 76 , 77 To better support coaches, sporting organizations, federations, and governing bodies need to nurture high-performance cultures that destigmatize mental ill health and reposition help-seeking. Future research might examine the relationship between mental health and coaching effectiveness to leverage proponents of positive psychology, and evaluate whether performance could be employed as a “hook” to engage elite-level coaches with mental health practices and help-seeking.…”

Preliminary report of the Japanese version of the International Olympic Committee Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool 1

“…The next step is expected to be developing a systematic care system linked to epidemiological research findings. As one of the limited epidemiological findings of the Japanese sports context, particularly in the top-category or professional level, our team collaborated with the JRPA and reported on the prevalence and factors related to mental health symptoms in elite athletes [5, 6, 23]. Following these reports, several epidemiological findings about mental health symptoms in highly competitive sports settings have been published [24, 25].…”