Some athletes will respond to group education, others to individual consultation, and some will prefer to learn at their own pace through online, written, or audio learning (and a combination of modalities can also be helpful).  In the area of athlete wellbeing and mental health, having local psychological assistance available increases compliance and minimises training disruptions.

Having coach buy-in and involvement in mental skills training increases the probability that such education will be translated over to, and reinforced within, the training/competition environment.  These factors are critical in increasing the likelihood that the mental skills training is as effective as possible and more importantly changes behaviour in desired ways. Until the skills are second-nature, it will be necessary to revisit their use periodically to ensure understanding and increase the chances for compliance and eventual automaticity.

Performance psychology skills are not just for athletes anymore. Coaches can benefit from employing psychological skills toward their own performances, particularly in high stress environments (e.g. big competitions), which can at times change the behaviour of even seasoned coaching professionals. Some coaches struggle with how to define personal success when the outcome of a given competition is out of their control and can gain benefit by talking through how to manage this with a sport psychologist. Finally, many coaches have found it helpful to have a sport psychologist observe athlete behaviours and team interactions and share insights gained to improve understanding and increase coaching effectiveness.

National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) should have ready access to a broad network of sport, performance, and general psychologists (or know where they can access them) for athletes in need of assistance in the event of a crisis, or if the athlete cannot access already established services. Funding should be set aside to cover costs for these services in the event they cannot be met through the National Institute Network (NIN).

NSOs working with a sport/performance psychologist can expect that the psychologist will conduct regular evaluations to gauge provider effectiveness, retention of learning, and links to performance outcomes.

At the elite level, mental and emotional skill building should be embraced not only by athletes, but by the team as a whole, and coaching staff as well. Having regular contact with a team sport/performance psychologist increases the chances that this encompassing service is delivered in a cohesive and ongoing way.

NSO plans should therefore include mental skill building, including basic skills (developmental level) and processes in place to determine personalised assessment and service delivery (elite level).

Support for elite AIS-funded athletes with mental health concerns.

The Mental Health Referral Network (MHRN) has been designed to provide a wide range of services, from basic mental wellness checks to comprehensive clinical treatment plans. Eligible individuals are encouraged to reach out and seek support for any mental health issues, challenges or a general wellbeing matter.

The MHRN provides eligible athletes and individuals from Australia’s high performance sports system with priority access to a network of AIS-endorsed psychologists, psychiatrists and neuropsychologists across the country.