Constructions of athlete mental health post-retirement: a discursive analysis of stigmatising and legitimising versions of transition distress in the Australian broadcast media

ABSTRACT

Athletes are vulnerable to experiencing mental health disorders, yet, disclosure and help-seeking around mental health remains low, with stigma the most widely reported barrier. However, the ways in which stigma around mental health may be produced (or resisted) in dominant constructions of athlete mental health remain under examined. This study explores constructions of athlete mental health into retirement in an example of Australian broadcast media, with consideration of the ways in which these representations might function to reproduce and perpetuate (or not) stigmatising versions of athlete mental health. Data from a two-part special of a current affairs programme focusing on transition difficulties and poor mental health of nine retired athletes were analysed using Discursive Psychology. Analysis focused on identifying the constructions of mental health and recovery produced in this broadcast, with consideration as to how these depictions might function to perpetuate and/or resist stigma. Mental health was constructed in two key ways – biomedical and life-stress – which externalised mental health. Recovery was, conversely, located as solely the individual’s responsibility and was depicted as achieved through self-awareness and engaging in new pursuits. Thus, individual experiences of mental health disorders were partially legitimised through externalising blame and presenting a plurality of depictions, yet did not redress stigma around transition distress more broadly by overlooking contextual factors. Depictions trivialised recovery, potentially functioning to stigmatise long-term or chronic mental health experiences as well as help-seeking. These results inform ways in which stigma around athlete mental health may be challenged, and implications for practice are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Depression
• trivialising
• retirement
• career transition
• distress
• psychopathology
• cultural sport psychology
• stigma

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Suzanne M. Cosh

S. M. Cosh is a clinical psychologist and Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of New England. Her work focuses on athlete mental health and wellbeing, especially in relation to career transitions and athlete identity.

Shona Crabb

Shona Crabb is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Public Health at the University of Adelaide, and the Associate Dean (Gender, Equity & Diversity) for the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. Her research interests are primarily in the area of qualitative and critical health psychology. In particular, public understandings of science. She is also particularly interested in gendered health issues and gender equity more broadly.

Dominic G. McNeil

D. G. McNeil is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Federation University. He has a broad research interest in sport and exercise psychology, especially in relation to identity and performance outcomes.

Phillip J. Tully

P. J. Tully is clinical psychologist and Senior Lecturer at the University of New England. His research focuses primarily on mental health including depression, anxiety and dementia, especially in chronic disease.