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.
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.
TRUESPORT TALKS: RECORDED SESSIONS
ARTICLES

5 Ways to Foster a Positive Team Culture
Here are five ways you can create a positive team culture where athletes are excited to show up for practice.

Expert Series: Dr. David Conant-Norville on Bullying in the Internet Age
Bullying is a form of victimization that takes many forms. Dr. David Conant-Norville, a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatric physician, explains how bullying has evolved

How to Talk About Mental Wellness with Your Athletes
Here are valuable tools & tips on how to start the conversation about mental wellness with your athlete, and how to keep those conversations moving forward.

Expert Series: Roberta Kraus on Mental Toughness
Do you know how to best support your athlete? Roberta Kraus, PhD, shares how you can start the conversation with your athlete about what they

Expert Series: Dr. David Conant-Norville on Anxiety
Sports challenge young athletes to push themselves past their self-imposed physical and mental limits. Dr. David Conant-Norville, a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatric physician, explains

Small Wins, Big Gains: Why Youth Athletes Should Try Incremental Goals
Parents and coach should help youth athletes design a system of incremental goals that break down their big goals into smaller, more gradual ones.
VIDEOS
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.