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Becoming an IOC Mental Health Ambassador is a true privilege. One of the most important things I want to do is promote mental health in places like Papua New Guinea and other developing countries, where athletes don't have as easy or widespread access to support. Drawing on my experience in other roles within the Olympic Movement, such as President of the WADA Athletes Council, Pacific Games Council Athlete Representative and Chef de Mission for Papua New Guinea at Paris 2024, I hope to make a difference as an ambassador raising awareness.
The importance of mental health and well-being to make a real impact for athletes in these areas. When it comes to mental health, considering the cultural context is essential. In Oceania, therefore, there is a real stigma surrounding mental health. For most athletes, talking about the topic is taboo because it's a sign of a lack of strength. How the topic of mental health is handled is crucial, because some terms here are beyond what we know elsewhere. As part of my duties with the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (COPNG) and the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC), I recently participated in a wellness workshop at the Oceania Athletes' Forum.
Adaptation of the Support Provided to Different Cultures
The focus was on developing the conversation about mental health and teaching athletes committees how to talk about it and connect with their athletes. We had many great conversations, and I found it really interesting to hear how difficult it is for some people to talk about it. In some cases it's as if the concept of mental health doesn't even exist. This shows how much it is to design programs that are culturally sensitive, and that is a big part of the challenge. One of the worst battles I had to face in my career was a few years before 2009 when I realized I didn't love swimming anymore.
He was late to everything, and I was leaving early. I wasn't working, and I felt like I had nothing to give at workouts. I wasn't getting along with what I was doing, so I decided to do some online research, and the first thing that came to mind was mental health, which surprised me a bit as I had always thought that couldn't happen to me. The thing that captivated me most about how I was able to escape that was the fact that other people noticed how I felt including my coach
My Experience with Mental Health
He invited me for coffee, and we didn't even talk about mental health he just gave me some options for workouts which I found really comforting. He understood where I was and where I was going and gave me some ideas on how to find my way. My family also noticed and I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. That's one of the most meaningful elements for me finding people you can trust where you know you'll have that safe space to talk to you don't need to be an expert just having the ability to have that conversation about how you feel is so meaningful.
I also underwent four shoulder surgeries during my career, and the first one took a huge toll on me. Fortunately, I had that support around me, and that helped motivate me to get back in the water. In the summer of 2021, the world learned a huge lesson about Olympic athletes and mental health when gold medal winning gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from competition. She then revealed her unnegotiable mental health issues and sent a powerful message to the world It's okay not to participate even if a gold medal is at stake.
Pre-game Mental Strategies
When high-profile athletes like Simone Biles speak, it helps demonstrate the reality of the athlete the real person behind them says France A. Davis II, MSPAS, PA-C, a leading practice advanced clinician at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute (HMHI). It's what people want to connect with and what drives an increased connection between athletes and fans. As we watch the Summer Olympics, it's important to remember that these inspiring athletes face many mental health challenges as they push their bodies and minds to the limit.
In the summer of 2021, the world learned a powerful lesson about Olympians and mental health when gold medal winning gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from the competition. She later shared her mental health struggles and sent a powerful message to the public It's okay not to participate, even if a gold medal is at stake. When high profile athletes like Simone Biles speak out it helps reflect the athlete's reality the real person behind the athlete says France A. Davis II, MSPAS, PA-C, an advanced practice clinical leader at the Huntsma Institute.
Conclusion
Understanding the art of emotional intelligence in sports also referred to as Sports IE, or EI in English can be a game changer, says Davis particularly when athletes are under continuous pressure to push through physical and emotional pain in order to demonstrate their Olympic spirit. Drowning in pain, silencing injuries or repressing emotions for long periods of time can lead an athlete to explode in ways that retaliate in their life and performance all in the name of toughness explains Davis. The worst coaches can do a lot of damage particularly when professional athletes spend more time in the gym than at home with their families.
Here are some red flags to consider verbal abuse, such as name calling and public humiliation. Pressuring an athlete to compete or exercise while injured and neglecting their recovery. Dismissing an athlete's mental health concerns or needs. Promoting a caustic sports climate with favoritism and unfair preferential treatment. Fostering an environment of fear and discouraging open communication. In the future, Davis hopes more athletes will use their platforms to share their stories and help others feel less isolated. It's important for these people to speak out because it breaks down the wall of stigma surrounding the topic of mental health and normalizes the struggle says Davis.
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