Exploring Para-Athlete Mental Health and Wellbeing

About this Research Topic

Background

There has been growing interest into athlete mental health in recent years. Indeed, many governing bodies and administrations describe an urgent need to improve our understanding of mental health issues among sportspeople, to promote awareness of mental health issues among sports professionals, and to enhance signposting to, and links with support services to ensure prompt access to treatment and support. Evidence and interventions have since emerged regarding mental health in Olympic sport, however, the nuances of para-sport that may impact upon athlete mental health are yet poorly understood. Accordingly, there is a significant dearth of understanding relating to the prevalence, characteristics and factors that may impact upon Paralympic athlete’s mental health and wellbeing.

The overall objective of this Research Topic is to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and wellbeing in para-sport by highlighting the prevalence in para-sport settings and presenting the actions taken and strategies adopted to prevent and reduce these behaviors. We aim to publish a wide collection of articles (all article types welcome) that will advance knowledge and understanding along with facilitating the practical implementation of intervention strategies.

We welcome papers that address any form or aspect of mental health and wellbeing in a para-sport context. Potential topics include:

• The impact and experiences of classification on para-athlete mental health and wellbeing
• Epidemiological studies of mental health and wellbeing in para-sport (local, national, international)
• The impact of mental health and wellbeing on para-athletes and organizations
• Research relating to transitional experiences into and out of para-sport
• Research relating to the delivery of mental health and wellbeing interventions in para-sport contexts
• Research relating to self- and social identity within the context of para-athletes and para-sport
• Policy development, prevention strategies/initiatives and implementation of policy regarding mental health and wellbeing in para-sport (local, national, international)

Keywords: Disability, Paralympic, Sport Psychology, Psychology, Elite

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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