Olympian or not, Mental Health Matters: Burnout Affects Everyone
When you think of athletes, you may sometimes overlook the significant connection between their performance and mental health. Take Olympians, often imagined as superhumans or beyond the capabilities of average humans, yet they still face the same mental challenges and often harsher circumstances than anyone else. Whether you are an Olympian, sprinting to become one, or working a 9-to-5, mental health matters, and burnout can happen to anyone–even you.
Productivity, physical health, and resilience have fascinating connections to mental health. When you are aware of your current mental state, you are conscious of: your actions, what you are spending your time on, and, of course, who you are–to yourself and to the world around you. Mental health awareness and understanding your own mental states are significant to your quality of life.
A person’s mental health can start to “tank” or drop for a range of reasons. The most common reasons include not feeling like enough in workplaces, classrooms, relationships, and, in more extreme and saddening cases, the passing of loved ones. But one major factor that contributes to poor mental health is burnout.
According to WebMD, burnout is defined as a form of exhaustion caused by constantly feeling swamped. It happens when we experience too much emotional, physical, and mental fatigue for too long. In other words, when you are engulfed or consumed by the current or potential tasks on your plate, they subconsciously affect your mental well-being.
Proper or improper mental health can lead to different outcomes. Your mental health can contribute to how you show up, how you feel, and, for an athlete, how you perform. In the 2024 Paris Olympics, various athletes brought the conversation of mental health awareness to the Olympic stage. NBC Olympics covered a story about preparing for the Olympics, featuring a wide range of athletes who have experienced the dark clouds first hand. People have to be reminded that these athletes are still regular people at the end of the day. Even though they may have proportionately different health and fitness routines compared to most of us, they live and operate just like the rest of us.
I am no scientist; however, I am a mental health advocate and comfortable enough to speak on what I have learned throughout my experiences, whether in professional, educational, or personal settings. Burnout can and will happen in each of those spaces. I will explore the cost of burnout, even when the task is a passion or something you enjoy.
As consumers of the Olympics, spectators and audiences at home also play a significant role in the mental health of these Olympians. Regardless of not being directly in their space or in the shoes of their trainers, coaches, or fellow teammates–it is how you interact with them, have your eyes on them, and even place unfair expectations on these individuals that you do not know.
According to an article from Penn Museum, the ancient Olympic Games were started in the year 776 BC and were hosted every four years with great fanfare and enthusiasm.
The first televised version of the games was in Berlin, Germany, in 1936. Twenty-four years later, in 1960, Rome hosted the first Olympics to be broadcast live across Europe. Four years later, the 1964 Tokyo Olympics became the first to be seen worldwide. In 1968, the Mexico City Games were the first televised in color. Almost a century later, the Games are still a huge spectacle in the lives of many.
I am currently in my 20s and can remember and recall some of the Olympic Games that have come and gone while I was growing up. I remember watching these super-strong, brave, and unbreakable individuals on television. However, as a child, I was not thinking about their mental health. My mental health was also not a factor to me at that age.
Being a little kid and watching the 2008 and 2012 games, and then transitioning to a teenager and seeing the 2016 Olympic Games, is quite interesting. I can remember hearing the names Usain Bolt, Gabby Douglas, Michael Phelps, and Simone Biles almost every day. At that point, when the limelight was directly on them, aspects of their mental well-being were surely not being spotlighted or doubted. Until the conversation was boldly sparked, allowing the world to remember the humanity of these talented players.
In 2021, Bolt shared with CNBC Make It about having mental strength and how he prepares for races.
“It’s 50/50, you can be really fit, but if you’re not mentally prepared for the challenge ahead, at times, you will fail. Because at times you get into your head, and you start thinking about your weaknesses. I tend to randomly think about anything else but the race,” said Bolt.
Gabby Douglas is another Olympian who advocates for mental health awareness and to give yourself time and grace. In 2022, Douglas shared a statement about taking time to work on herself and her mental health. Full story on E! News.
“I know I don’t post a lot on social media, but I just wanted to let you guys know that I will be taking a step back from socials to work on myself and focus on my mental health,” said Douglas.
Douglas spoke about her Olympic history, the mental health challenges she faced, and moving forward to heal from them.
“I have carried a heavy weight on my back for quite some time, and it has weighed me down physically, mentally, and emotionally. I no longer want to run, but fight and heal. I refuse to be defeated by this. On the road to my second Games, I went through hell times two and I lost my joy. I lost my passion, my fire. My only desire is that people will only spread love because you never know what someone is going through that you cannot see,” said Douglas.
In an NBC News interview with Kristen Welker, Michael Phelps spoke about his experience with post-Olympic depression.
“2004 was my first taste of post-Olympic depression, 2008 was my second. Coming off that high after doing something you set out to do your whole entire life. As a male athlete, I could tell something was off, but I had to learn that vulnerability is a good thing. It was scary at first, but I learned that vulnerability just means change, and for me, it was a great change,” said Phelps.
Biles pulled out of the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 to focus on her mental health. She recently spoke about her mental health preparation and journey in an ABC News interview with Janai Norman.
“I think it’s okay to not be okay, and I think I showed a very vulnerable side that most people don’t see. Most of the time, whenever I am out there, they are seeing me win gold medals and stuff that’s not relatable. Whenever I break it down and am very authentic [with] them, then they feel they can relate, and it’s on a personal level, and they believe they can get the help they deserve,” said Biles.
Biles also mentioned that staying in her weekly therapy sessions assisted her in getting ready and performing in the games.
“Obviously, you’re not going to always have your best performances, which is okay, but it’s how you get back up and keep going,” said Biles.
As a result of this, one of the main questions being asked right now is: Is mental health awareness being prioritized and handled with care in preparation for and during the next Olympics? As consumers of one of the greatest and best-known showcases on Earth, it is easy to forget that, even though these people are not directly connected to you, they deserve the same amount of time and space that you would give yourself after a strenuous day.
Just because Olympians and athletes have put themselves in a position to follow their dreams and do something they love, does not mean that they must be mentally drained and objectified. Absolutely not. These individuals are simply living and pushing towards their passions. They should not have to face depleted mental states for the satisfaction of viewers. Nevertheless, there are accommodations and resources available for athletes of all backgrounds.
The sources listed below are advocates for mental health awareness and offer support, content and community for student, nonprofessional, and professional athletes.
- Same Here Global
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- The Mind Room Podcast
- The Hidden Opponent
- Silence is Not an Option on Player’s Tribune
While watching the Olympics, I asked myself three questions: (1) why are mental health resources necessary for athletes, (2) what does mental health awareness specifically encourage in athletes, and (3) how is mental health viewed from a non-professional to professional athlete standpoint?
Why are mental health resources necessary for athletes?
These resources are relevant to letting these hard-working performers know that their voices are heard and what they do is not done in vain. They are also here to remind athletes that it is okay to rest and step back to recharge. Pouring into ourselves and taking time off should be viewed, neither as a crime nor a reward, but as a requirement.
What does mental health awareness specifically encourage in athletes?
Awareness of mental health should drive athletes to want to perform better based on their mental states. Not to overwork or send their bodies into shock. With this awareness, athletes can be inspired to do a deep self-dive on themselves, how they are feeling about their sport, performance, and overall life experience, and move forward from there.
How is mental health viewed from a non-professional to professional athlete standpoint?
It could be assumed that mental health awareness would be viewed differently between a non-professional and professional setting, and of course there is a difference, but there is more similarity. For starters, both recreational and professional athletes pour themselves into what they love. They both work long days and nights in order to perfect their craft. And, you guessed it, both are humans.
Scientific American reports that athletes have to frequently confront mental health issues, including burnout, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. Athletes are urged to be intentional and to prioritize their mental health. Training, energetic demands, and pressure are serious factors that influence the mental state of athletes.
It is similar if you choose to view this from the standpoint of a non-athlete experiencing burnout. Think of it as you being committed to your craft and committed to always performing your best. Your ideals and expectations are now a prevalent factor in the equation. This is why your mental health is linked directly to your performance.
From my point of view and in my experience, burnout is obviously no joke and no simple feat to overcome. It is a pretty absorbing experience. First, of course, you are feeling drained and have low energy, but then you have to step back and ask yourself where exactly this is coming from. When did it happen, and how did it start? What red flags did I ignore or suppress, leading me here? How can I recover? Where can I turn for support? What steps should I take next in order to get better?
Personally, I believe sports can have a huge impact on your mental health. Not only because of the physical exhaustion to your body, but also other factors such as game metrics, teammates, and pressure. When you are an athlete in a professional setting, the public eye is constantly watching over you, either waiting for you to do the right thing or the wrong thing. Plus, as an athlete, you have many decisions being made for you — decisions that could one day influence or tamper with your mental health.
I can only recall two sports that I was truly involved with: soccer when I was younger and archery at this current moment. Archery is a sport I decide to play recreationally, as it is more of a leisure activity for me. Therefore, I aim not to pressure myself or allow the sport to tamper with my mental health in a negative manner when I do not make or miss a target.
When you love or have a passion that consumes your time, it also consumes your mental state. You must ask yourself, are these passions worth the decline of your own energy and mental health? How can the activity contribute instead? You need to incorporate recovery methods whenever you are feeling out of fuel or burned out.
Recovery from anything that you are pouring yourself into is necessary. I do not mean taking a simple break only to burn yourself out all over again. I mean by intentionally stepping away from your craft so you can return the best way you can. When I create, in writing or otherwise, I must do the same. You need to allow our mind, body, and soul the time they require to replenish themselves without rush, and being purposeful in taking profound care of yourself.
When recovering, introducing self-care can go a long way. Here are a few tips from the National Institute of Mental Health:
- Get regular exercise.
- Eat healthy, regular meals and stay hydrated.
- Make sleep a priority.
- Try a relaxing activity.
- Set goals and priorities.
- Practice gratitude.
- Focus on positivity.
- Stay connected.
Mental health and burnout are two very important and very real components of the human experience. Sometimes you experience mental challenges as a result of what is going on with your exterior perception. Acknowledging these challenges and being proactive in your nature with recovery, self-care, and therapy allow you to see beyond having “one of those days” or being in a season of sadness.
For more daily ways to strengthen your mental health practices, visit The Shift’s @ABCsofMentalStrength on Instagram.
About Jared:
Jared Melhado is a dedicated public relations strategist and writer with a strong focus on communications, fashion, mental health, culture, self-care, and inclusivity. He holds a B.S. in Public Relations and is a proud graduate of HBCU, Florida A&M University. Melhado is open to learning and writing about a variety of topics, and enjoys jogging and reviewing astrology in his free time. Visit Melhado’s website at https://www.astoldbyjared.net to read more about and from him.
