PURPOSE In this study we tested the effectiveness of a multi-component sports-based program aimed at promoting early intervention, help-seeking and resilience among a sample of adolescent male sport participants. METHODS The Ahead of the Game program comprised four intervention components and a messaging campaign. Two components targeted mental health literacy, intentions to seek and provide help, and resilience among adolescent males. A mental health literacy program for parents, and a coach education program to assist in the support of athletes' psychological needs were also included. We evaluated the program using a non-randomised controlled trial matching two regional communities. In total, 350 sport participants (M = 14.53 years) were included in an intervention group, while 466 (M = 14.66 years) received usual practice in a matched control community. One hundred and eighty parents or caregivers and eight coaches also participated in the intervention components. Between-group mean differences on the primary and secondary outcomes were analysed using linear mixed models, adjusted for clustering at club level, participant age, and socioeconomic status. RESULTS Significant positive group by time interactions were found for the primary outcomes of depression and anxiety literacy, intentions to seek help from formal sources, confidence to seek mental health information, and resilience. We also found a significant positive group by time interaction for the secondary outcome of wellbeing. There were no group by time interactions for social distance (stigma), intentions to seek help from informal sources, implicit beliefs about adversity, perceived familial support, or psychological distress. CONCLUSION Given the high rates of sport participation worldwide and the increasing focus on mental health in this domain, translation and dissemination of the program may be warranted following replication.
Last. Stewart A. Vella(UOW: University of Wollongong)H-Index: 26
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Abstract Intervention studies have rarely targeted parent mental health literacy despite its importance for adolescent mental health. This qualitative study evaluated the experiences of parents (n = 352) who participated in the Ahead of the Game mental health literacy workshop delivered through community sport clubs. Moreover, the study aimed to investigate the relevance, retention and use of intervention content by parents, assess the acceptability and feasibility of delivering mental health ed...
Last. Gerard Leavey(Centre for Mental Health)H-Index: 31
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Background Research focused on mental health in sport has revealed a need to develop evidence-supported mental health practices that are sensitive to sport culture, particularly for non-elite athletes. A consensus statement was produced to assist effective mental health awareness in sport and guide programme implementation in this rapidly emerging field. Method The AGREE Reporting Checklist 2016 was used in two international expert consultation meetings, followed by two online surveys. Experts f...
Last. Frank P. Deane(UOW: University of Wollongong)H-Index: 65
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Abstract Objectives Formative evaluation is critical in maximising the implementation strategies and processes of interventions. It is also critical to both providing contextual explanations for and maximising the success of such interventions. The purpose of this study was to undertake a comprehensive formative evaluation of the implementation process of a multi-component, sports-based mental health program for adolescent males (“Ahead of the Game”). Methods Primary outcomes included program re...
Mental health symptoms and disorders are common among elite athletes, may have sport related manifestations within this population and impair performance. Mental health cannot be separated from physical health, as evidenced by mental health symptoms and disorders increasing the risk of physical injury and delaying subsequent recovery. There are no evidence or consensus based guidelines for diagnosis and management of mental health symptoms and disorders in elite athletes. Diagnosis must differen...
Last. Stewart A. Vella(UOW: University of Wollongong)H-Index: 26
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Coaches play an important role in the lives of adolescents in sport and have the potential to greatly impact on athlete mental health. This study aimed to investigate coaches' perceptions of their ...
#2Frank P. Deane(UOW: University of Wollongong)H-Index: 65
Last. Joseph Ciarrochi(ACU: Australian Catholic University)H-Index: 69
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Adolescents experience high rates of mental health problems but are reluctant to seek professional help. Parents play an integral role in the help seeking process for their adolescent children. Parental authoritativeness and support have been identified as contributing to better mental health outcomes and a reduction in help seeking barriers in their children. The current study examined the influence of parental authoritativeness and support on help seeking intentions and behaviors in 1582 stude...
AbstractBackground: While the onset of many mental health problems occurs in adolescence, these problems are severely undertreated in this age group. To inform early intervention for adolescents, we investigated the effect of gender and education type on perception of barriers to help seeking, mental health literacy, and the awareness and use of mental health services.Method: A web-based survey using vignettes, open-ended and multiple choice items was administered to upper secondary school stude...
Background: Accumulating sufficient moderate to vigorous physical activity is recognized as a key determinant of physical, physiological, developmental, mental, cognitive, and social health among children and youth (aged 5–17 y). The Global Matrix 3.0ofReportCardgradesonphysicalactivitywasdevelopedtoachieveabetterunderstandingoftheglobalvariationinchildand youth physical activity and associated supports. Methods: Work groups from 49 countries followed harmonized procedures to develop their Report...
#2Philip D. Parker(ACU: Australian Catholic University)H-Index: 37
Last. Chris Lonsdale(ACU: Australian Catholic University)H-Index: 48
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Background Abundant evidence demonstrates a relationship between physical activity and mental wellbeing. However, the strength of the relationship is not consistent. Factors contributing to variation in the strength of association are not well understood and, therefore, it remains difficult to optimize physical activity to ensure the strongest possible relationship with mental health. Self-determination theory suggests that more autonomously motivated behaviors lead to better mental health outco...
Last. Mark Campbell(UL: University of Limerick)H-Index: 61
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Motivation has been the subject of much research in the sport psychology literature, whereas athlete mental health has received limited attention. Motivational complexities in elite sport are somewhat reflected in the mental health literature, where there is evidence for both protective and risk factors for athletes. Notably, few studies have linked motivation to mental health. Therefore, the key objective of this study was to test four mental health outcomes in the motivational sequence posited...
Last. Stewart A. Vella(UOW: University of Wollongong)H-Index: 26
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Abstract Objective This study aimed to understand adolescent males' experience of participating in a sports-based mental health literacy intervention (Help Out a Mate), and provide insight into their perceptions of the effectiveness and implementation of the program. Method Thirty-three adolescent males (12-15 years old) who had recently participated in Help Out a Mate took part in six focus groups. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse focus group data, and a number of strategies were...
Last. Simon M Rice(University of Melbourne)H-Index: 29
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Issue addressed null Many men are challenged by barriers to mental health help-seeking and engagement. For men who do access care, their pathways to engaging services can offer important insights to what might constitute gender-specific care. null Methods null Data were drawn from an online cross-sectional survey of N = 2009 Australian men (aged 16-85; M = 43.5) reflecting on their initial pathways to mental health services, including their reasons for help-seeking, how they first located a ther...
Youth who are socially vulnerable are disproportionately confronted with culminating risk factors that impact their everyday lives. Within positive youth development (PYD) programs, life skills are viewed as critical outcomes because they represent transferable skills that enable youth to thrive. Although there have been advances with regard to understanding the processes related to the development and transfer of life skills, research has rarely explored the positive contribution that challengi...
Research has shown a strong relationship between nutrition and mental health. Packed schedules and little rest time may make student-athletes more susceptible to mental health issues than the general population, but few athletes are fully aware of the effects that nutrition can have on their mental health. While collegiate athletic programs are beginning to recognize the individual contributions of nutrition and mental health to performance and are hiring sport dietitians and psychologists for t...
Adolescents with a diagnosable mental health disorder must often first disclose their mental health problems to a parent in order to obtain professional mental health treatment. The decision to dis...
