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Developed by 31 international experts following an IOC-convened consensus meeting in Lausanne in June 2025, the statement calls for coordinated action across the sporting ecosystem, from sporting organisations and leaders to coaches, support staff, healthcare professionals and athletes themselves.
Rather than focusing solely on diagnosis and treatment, the statement advocates a broader approach to promoting wellbeing, including regular monitoring to identify concerns early, reducing barriers to seeking help and supporting athletes throughout their sporting careers.
While elite athletes experience mental health symptoms and disorders at rates similar to, and in some cases higher than, the general population, they also face challenges that are unique to the elite sport environment. Factors such as training environments, injury, major life transitions, performance pressures, social media exposure and organisational culture can all affect athlete mental health and wellbeing.
Mental health is a shared responsibility
A central message of the consensus statement is that responsibility for mental health in elite sport extends beyond the individual athlete. The authors highlight the important roles played by sporting organisations, leaders, coaches, support personnel, healthcare professionals and athletes themselves in creating environments that support wellbeing and facilitate access to care.
“The responsibility for prevention, recognition and management of mental health symptoms and disorders and for promoting wellbeing extends across the entire elite sport ecosystem,” the experts write.
Key recommendations for sports organisations
Updating previous guidance published in 2019, the recommendations were developed through an IOC-led consensus process in which 31 international experts examined 27 priority areas related to athlete mental health and wellbeing.
Among the recommendations, the statement calls for sporting organisations to:
- embed mental health as a shared responsibility across the elite sport ecosystem;
- foster organisational cultures that support wellbeing, psychological safety and help-seeking;
- address stigma, confidentiality concerns and fears of negative career consequences;
- implement evidence-based mental health screening and monitoring where appropriate;
- establish clear mental health emergency action plans; and
- provide culturally responsive and individualised mental healthcare.
Supporting athletes throughout their careers
The statement also highlights the importance of supporting athletes during key transitions, including entry into and retirement from elite sport, as well as recognising the specific needs of Para athletes and adolescent athletes.
In addition, it emphasises the close relationship between mental health, injury and performance, and calls for coaches, support staff and healthcare professionals to receive mental health education and training tailored to their roles.
The authors conclude that protecting and promoting mental health is fundamental to both athlete welfare and sustainable high performance, requiring leadership, accountability and long-term commitment from sporting organisations.
For more information, read the consensus statement here: Mental health in elite athletes: International Olympic Committee consensus statement (2026)
read more: https://www.olympics.com/ioc/news/new-ioc-consensus-statement-calls-for-system-wide-action-and-regular-monitoring-to-support-athlete-mental-health
