Highlighting the importance of Mental Wellbeing in Sport

Why athletes need better support — and how UKIM is leading the way.

Mental health in sport is finally receiving the attention it deserves. While professional athletes are admired for their physical strength, their emotional resilience is often overlooked. Behind every performance is a person managing pressure, scrutiny, uncertainty, and, like anyone else, the complexities of everyday life.

At UKIM Occupational Health & Wellbeing, our work with clubs such as Bradford City AFC, alongside our dedicated Wellbeing in Sports package, is designed to close the gap between what athletes need and what support has traditionally been available.

This “super-guide” brings together the most important issues facing athletes today, the science behind sport and mental health, and how UKIM provides evidence-based, confidential and proactive care for sportspeople at every level.

Sport is good for mental health but pressure can undo the benefits.

Its well established that exercise improves mental wellbeing. Physical activity boosts serotonin and dopamine levels, reduces the risk of depression, and can lift mood by as much as 30%. For many athletes, sport is more than a career - its a source of identity, joy, confidence and belonging.

As Bradford City goalkeeper Sam Walker describes:

Sport provides a platform for boosting confidence and self-esteem but most importantly, it provides that social interaction – a sense of belonging in a team, friendships created, enjoying winning together but dealing with losses together too.

However, the pressures of professional sport can erode these benefits. Intense competition, public scrutiny, uncertain selection, criticism from managers or fans, injury worries, and contract insecurity can cause mental strain that goes far beyond the pitch.

Athletes often face questions such as:

• Am I performing well enough?

• Will I make the first team?

• What happens if I get injured?

• How will online criticism affect my confidence?

• What if my contract isn’t renewed?

Left unmanaged, these stresses can lead to anxiety, depression, burnout, or reduced performance, and can strip away the love of sport that first inspired them.

The hidden reality: 1 in 4 people experience a mental health problem

According to Mind, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health issue in any given year. Athletes are no exception. In fact, they are often more vulnerable because:

• mental health concerns can be less visible than physical injuries

• stigma remains deeply embedded in sporting culture

• athletes feel pressure to “just get on with it”

• life outside sport — family challenges, financial stress, relationship issues — can compound performance pressures

• major transitions (e.g., academy to first team, maternity, injury rehabilitation, retirement) add extra strain

High-profile sportspeople, such as David Beckham discussing his ongoing experience with OCD in recent media, have helped spotlight mental health challenges. But the reality is clear: mental wellbeing issues exist at every level of sport, from youth academies to elite teams.

Why traditional sporting culture isn’t enough

Historically, football and other sports have relied on a culture of self-management, and an expectation that players simply cope. This approach fails to acknowledge:

• the complexity of mental health

• the variability of individual needs

• the impact of online and in-person criticism

• the growing pressures faced by women’s and academy players

• the unique challenges of juggling sporting and personal responsibilities

As UKIM Sports Consultant Ben Jones explains:

“If one of the lads is hobbling about, you know he’s got an injury. A mental illness can have as great a debilitating effect on a player as a physical problem. UKIM offer a proactive way of addressing that.”

It’s important that life-factors are taken into consideration as they can have an impact on mental health and stresses. Ben goes on to say:

“We want the bigger clubs to take it on from age 10, we want the academy boys covered and we want the women’s teams involved. They have a stigma before they begin that they are playing a man’s game. They’ve got pregnancy within their career, menstrual problems and other issues that can all be talked through.”

Challenges faced by modern athletes

Emotional and performance pressures

• Fear of losing form

• Fear of losing their place in the squad

• High expectations from fans, coaches, and media

Public scrutiny and online criticism

• Abuse and negative comments on social platforms

• Constant visibility of performance statistics

• Pressure from broadcast and written media

Life stressors

• Family pressures

• Financial uncertainty

• Injury and recovery anxiety

• Women’s health considerations

• Managing education for academy players

• Maternity return-to-sport considerations

Identity and career transitions

• Moving between clubs

• Adapting to new environments

• Approaching retirement

• Losing identity after leaving sport

These factors combine to create a mental load that far exceeds what many athletes are equipped to handle alone.

UKIM’s role: Proactive, confidential Mental Wellbeing support

UKIM’s dedicated Wellbeing in Sports package is built to protect and enhance mental health across the sporting world — providing athletes with the same level of professional care afforded to their physical fitness.

Our team of psychologists, occupational health nurses, and mental wellbeing specialists deliver:

• Early intervention and preventative care

Before problems escalate into crisis.

• One-to-one psychological support

Tailored to both personal and performance-related challenges.

• Independent, confidential consultations

Allowing players to speak openly without judgement or fear of career impact.

• Specialist guidance for coaching and HR teams

Helping organisations understand how best to support their players.

• Evidence-based recommendations

Including phased training schedules, workload adjustments, role modifications, and referrals to counselling or crisis services where needed.

As UKIM Lead Occupational Health Advisor Laura Sharp explains:

“Occupational health input is a vital resource for any organisation that cares about their people. We can be the important link between the employee and employer that enables a person to remain at work and avoid long-term sickness.”

This applies equally to sporting environments.

Protecting the love of the game

Sport brings joy, identity, purpose and community to millions of people. For athletes, that joy should not disappear when sport becomes a job.

Ensuring players can enjoy sport in the same way they did as young people is fundamental not just for performance, but for mental wellbeing.

UKIM’s mission is to protect both the athlete and the person behind the athlete, ensuring access to expert support whenever they need it, regardless of whether their challenges are related to sport or life beyond it.

Helping athletes with their Mental Wellbeing

Mental wellbeing is not optional. It is essential for performance, personal fulfilment and long-term health. With 1 in 4 people experiencing mental health challenges, the sporting industry must evolve, moving beyond outdated expectations and creating a culture where mental health is supported with the same seriousness as physical fitness.

Through our partnerships, psychological expertise, and proactive Wellbeing in Sports services, UKIM is proud to support athletes, coaches, clubs and organisations in building healthier sporting environments, where everyone has access to the mental health support they need and deserve.

Because at UKIM, everyday health matters - and every player matters.