GB Sport announces radical mental health plan
BySportsbeat
Updated 11/10/2018 at 07:56 GMT
Five-time Olympic medallist Dame Katherine Grainger has hailed a plan by UK Sport and the English Institute of Sport that will help top British athletes deal with mental health issues.
Silver medalist Katherine Grainger speaks to journalists during the Team GB press conference at the Sofitel, Heathrow Airport on August 23, 2016 in London, England. The 2016 British Olympic Team arrived back to Heathrow on a British Airways flight today
Image credit: Getty Images
The new strategy, launched on World Mental Health Day, focuses on four key elements - education, provision, communication and assurance following the appointment of a new Head of Mental Health.
Athletes and staff will have access to a mental health screening programme when they join and leave the elite set-up.
And 2012 gold medallist Grainger believes that creating a positive mental health environment will have major benefits for the GB squad and coaching staff.
"World Mental Health Day provides a fantastic platform to focus on this very important area that doesn't always get the attention it should," she said.
"In both sport and society, it is vital that we work towards creating the most positive mental health environment whenever possible.
"We are pleased to be promoting new measures today, including the launch of our Mental Health Strategy, as we continue to build structures that will help promote a positive environment for athletes, coaches and support staff."
The plan, established in conjunction between the EIS and UK Sport, aims to take care of athlete's mental health needs as well as their physical health.
EIS Director of Medical Services Dr Rod Jaques said: "For over a decade, we have had doctors who are consultants in sport and exercise medicine looking after our elite athletes.
"The doctors are trained to recognise mental health issues and are assisted by EIS sports psychologists and performance lifestyle advisers.
"The new Mental Health Strategy and the other measures we are promoting today demonstrate that our work in the area is consistently evolving and improving as we move forward.
"It is positive that mental health is being publicly talked about and I am confident that we are moving in the right direction which will ultimately benefit every athlete, coach and support staff member working in Olympic and Paralympic sport."
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