While the concerns around athlete mental health and wellbeing continue to garner national attention, the youth sport landscape lacks clear direction for coaches, parents/guardians, and athletes as to how to respond to those challenges. Use the resources below to explore mental wellness through the lens of youth sport as discussed at the TrueSport Talks Symposiums.
Trigger Warning: The following resources discuss mental wellness, mental health, and mental health challenges. Some people may find this content triggering and some content may not be suitable for all ages.
Use the buttons below to jump to the various sections of this mental wellness resource page.
To visit our Mental Wellness topic page, click here.
TRUESPORT TALKS: RECORDED SESSIONS
ARTICLES

6 Ways to Set Boundaries that Support Athlete Well-Being
When it comes to keeping athletes healthy and motivated, boundaries are essential and you can help athletes create boundaries for themselves, as well.

Do You Know How to Practice Mental Recovery?
TrueSport Expert, Dr. Melissa Streno, shares what mental recovery looks like, and how you can find the right balance on your next rest day.

How to Help Your Child See Themselves as More Than an Athlete
Why establishing an identity outside of sport is important and some common mistakes caregivers make around athletic identity for their children.

The Social Pressures Driving the Imbalance in Youth Sports
Given the social pressures and competitive culture of youth sports today, a more balanced approach to sport will help build a happier family unit.

5 Ways to Create Better Teams through Psychological Safety
Dr. Charron Sumler, TrueSport Expert, explains how coaches can foster and maintain psychological safety on their teams.

How Can Athletes Ditch Procrastination in Sport and Life?
TrueSport Expert Kevin Chapman, PhD, is explaining why young athletes tend to procrastinate and how to stop procrastinating once and for all.
VIDEOS
DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES
Humanizing Sport: Best Practices Guide to Support Student-Athlete Mental Wellness and Resilience for Anyone with an Athlete in their Life
The purpose of this report is to highlight current challenges in sport that hinder student-athlete mental wellness, and to provide human-centered, values-based opportunities for growth and improvement for all stakeholders across sport. These recommendations are evidence-based and prioritize the development of mental wellness and resilience in student-athletes across ages and competition levels, in public and private, and community and school-based sports. Challenges and opportunities are outlined according to levels of influence present in sport culture today.
ADDITIONAL EXPERT RESOURCES
LINKS
U.S. Center for Mental Health & Sport: https://mentalhealthandsport.org/resources/
National Center for School Mental Health: https://www.schoolmentalhealth.org/
National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org
National Child Traumatic Stress Network: https://www.nctsn.org/
Apps for Smart Phones
- The Safe Place – Free smartphone app focused on psychoeducation and self-care for minority mental health, geared towards the Black community.
- Liberate – Free meditation app designed specifically for the BIPOC community and led by BIPOC teachers.
- MindShift – Free “cheerleader in your pocket” for teens and young adults with anxiety.
- Happify – Free games, activities, and gratitude prompts to help overcome negative thoughts and improve mood.
- Breathe2Relax – Stress management tool to decrease “fight-or-flight” stress. response.
Content is inspired by the 2021 TrueSport Talks: Mental Wellness & the Young Athlete: The Path Forward, with media support from Sports Engine.