Mental Health Screening and Support in Sport and Physical Activity

Mental health in sport and physical activity is increasingly understood as central to health, wellbeing, participation, and performance. However, athletes and physically active people across elite, collegiate, community, youth, recreational, and adapted settings continue to experience psychological distress, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, substance use, burnout, and suicide risk, often without timely recognition or appropriate care. Recent studies have expanded knowledge of symptom prevalence, risk and protective factors, screening instruments, peer and coach support, digital interventions, and integrated models of care. Nevertheless, evidence remains uneven across populations and contexts, and important questions persist regarding the validity, feasibility, acceptability, cultural responsiveness, and potential harms of screening. Further investigation is also needed into referral pathways, continuity of care, stakeholder engagement, implementation conditions, and the translation of research findings into sustainable practice and policy.This Research Topic aims to advance evidence-based knowledge on the development, implementation, evaluation, and impact of mental health screening and support initiatives in sport and physical activity. It will examine how universal, targeted, and indicated approaches can promote mental health, facilitate early identification of psychological difficulties, prevent suicide, strengthen referral and treatment pathways, and improve access to appropriate support. Contributions may address the effectiveness, feasibility, acceptability, equity, ethical implications, and real-world sustainability of these approaches, as well as the roles of coaches, health professionals, peers, families, educators, sporting organisations, and policymakers. The Research Topic also seeks to identify how evidence can be translated into context-sensitive systems that support psychological wellbeing both within and beyond sport.To gather further insights across elite, collegiate, community, youth, recreational, and adapted sport, as well as broader physical activity settings, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:Development, validation, and evaluation of mental health screening toolsUniversal, targeted, and indicated mental health promotionEarly identification of psychological distress and suicide preventionReferral pathways, stepped care, and integrated models of supportDigital mental health interventions and technology-enabled screeningPeer support and lived-experience approachesCoach, practitioner, educator, and volunteer trainingMental health support for athletes and participants across the lifespanEquity, inclusion, cultural responsiveness, and access to careEthical, legal, privacy, and safeguarding considerationsStakeholder engagement and participatory researchDissemination and implementation sciencePolicy development and translation of evidence into practiceSystematic reviews and meta-analysesMethodological studiesQualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods researchPolicy-focused perspectivesAppendix: The Research Topic welcomes original research, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, methodological papers, and policy-focused perspectives. Topic editors: Zachary K. Winkelmann, Antonio Jesús Muñoz Villena, Nancy Anai Uriegas Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/86002/mental-health-screening-and-support-in-sport-and-physical-activity