Mental health significantly influences the performance, decision-making, and overall well-being of elite athletes facing extreme competitive pressures [1].
This issue is critical because the high level of demand and intense media exposure can trigger stress, anxiety, and other disorders that compromise both health and competitiveness [2, 3].
Attention toward athlete wellness increased following the summer of 2021, when gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from Olympic competition [4]. According to Yahoo Noticias, the issue of athlete mental health gained significant relevance three years after the Tokyo 2020 Games [2].
Experts describe the environment of elite sports as a potential catalyst for crisis. An author for Infobae said, "The pressure to which elite protagonists are subjected can be a psychological bomb" [1]. To mitigate these effects, international organizations are developing specific strategies and treatments to support athletes [1].
However, the availability of these resources varies by region. In Chile, the development of specialized psychiatric care for athletes has been limited. Vania Martínez of the University of Chile said, "Sports psychiatry has not had greater development in Chile and its knowledge is fundamental, particularly among high-performance athletes" [3].
Psychological support is no longer viewed as an optional supplement but as a necessity for maintaining professional longevity. The intersection of physical training and mental health care is now central to the training regimens of many top-tier competitors to prevent burnout and severe mental health declines [1, 3].
“The pressure to which elite protagonists are subjected can be a psychological bomb.”
The shift toward prioritizing mental health in sports represents a transition from a 'win-at-all-costs' mentality to a holistic health approach. While global awareness has risen since 2021, the disparity in access to specialized sports psychiatry—as seen in the gap between international strategies and regional availability in Chile—indicates that systemic infrastructure still lags behind the public discourse.
