British Swimmers Launch Campaign to Tackle Mental Health Stigmas
July 7, 2023
Andrea Brown, mother of British competitive swimmers Jack and India Brown, has joined with her children to launch a national campaign addressing the growing mental health crisis among young athletes. The initiative, which provides resources and focuses on ending stigmas around mental health arising from "added pressures" of competing in sports, was born out of concern for the high levels of stress and pressure young athletes face.
According to forensic psychiatrist Dr Kike Anunobi who is supporting the Browns' efforts, “young athletes can experience around 600 times than their adult counterparts.” From experiencing high levels of performance anxiety to extreme perfectionism, these athletes are seen to have access to very few resources that support their mental health.
The Brown family initiative, The Mental Health Campaign for Competitive Swimmers and Youth Athletes, has been completely self-funded and inspired by their own mental health journeys. “People often don’t understand what counts as a mental health issue and many are afraid to speak up for fear of being judged or getting it wrong. Through this campaign, we want to create an environment where young athletes feel supported and empowered to talk about their mental health,” said co-founder Andrea. “Adults are getting access to that content, but our children are often not. This campaign aims to bridge the gap, leading to athletes enjoying sport more and reaching their full potential.”
Resources include a free educational documentary available on Youtube, a supporting eBook and free mental health first aid courses, which intends to provide grassroots clubs and families with the tools they need to start positive conversations around mental health and wellbeing. Additionally, the family aims to advertise campaign materials with “We care. Talk to us.” in clubs and leisure centers across the nation by October 10's Mental Health Awareness Day.
The movement has been backed by the swimming community, including Olympic swimmers, Jemma Lowe and Ed Sinclair, Independent Safeguarding Consultant Keith Oddy, Child Abuse Solicitor Dino Nocivelli, Performance Psychologist Jake Brown and Soundwell Swimming Club Welfare Officer Claire Kerslake and Anunobi who also feature in the documentary to share their personal stories around mental health. The film intends to ask hard questions and shed light on the mental health challenges faced by young athletes.
The Browns want to make a substantial impact on the lives of young athletes and contribute to a more inclusive and understanding community through the campaign. “People tend to be reactive to mental health solutions after a problem has occurred and there’s a crisis. We need to be proactive about the mental health of athletes so that when they get into difficult and high-pressure situations, they already have the tools in place to deal with them,” said Andrea.
Source: Digital Journal