Investigating Youth Sports Coaches' Perceptions of Their Role in Adolescent Mental Health

Abstract

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 role in supporting adolescent mental health. Twenty coaches participated in 5 focus groups. Results revealed that coaches perceive their role to be diverse and inclusive of the promotion of mental health. Some believed they have a role in facilitating professional help seeking but were not adequately trained in the area of mental health. We present recommendations regarding the tailoring of mental health literacy training for youth sport coaches.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank the following people for their contributions to this study: Jo Telenta, Chris Lonsdale, Edel Langan, Andrea Fogarty, Frank Deane, Diarmuid Hurley, and Sandra Jones.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this study has been provided by a Movember Foundation Australian Mental Health Initiative Grant. Funding has also been provided by the University of Wollongong Global Challenges Program.