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Athletes and Mental Health with Dr. Matthew Sacco

By Cleveland Clinic — 2021

Sports psychologist Matthew Sacco, PhD, talks about the specific mental health concerns athletes face as early as childhood, and how sports fans, parents and coaches alike can play a role in supporting their wellness.

Read on my.clevelandclinic.org

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Why It Matters that More Athletes Are Talking about Their Mental Health

Experts I spoke with for this story pointed to a couple of reasons professional athletes are particularly susceptible to mental health issues.

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The Psychosocial Side of Cancer

A cancer diagnosis brings a wealth of psychological challenges. In fact, adults living with cancer have a six-time higher risk for psychological disability than those not living with cancer.

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Playing Through the Pain

How one teen is using her tragic injury to take down the warrior culture in sports.

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The Beauty in Mental Illness

Look more closely and you’ll see.

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Signs That Your Child's Coach Is a Jerk

One of the more difficult situations you may face as a parent is dealing with a coach who is a bully. Unlike the typical "schoolyard bullies," this type of bully is more dangerous and is harder to recognize.1 Consequently, many parents don't even realize that the coach is bullying their child.

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Ending Cycles of Abuse in Sports and Society

Covert emotional abuse (CEA) is a tightly woven web meant to ensnare and control the victim. It can lead to other forms of abuse. Signs of CEA in sports include a perpetrator creating a sense of specialness in the victim, and cultivating self-doubt and dependency.

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Eat Right to Play Hard

Active kids need "high-octane" fuel. In addition to calories for daily activities, health, brainpower and growth, child athletes need energy for sports. To give their performance a boost, feed these young athletes power foods packed with nutrients.

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Michael Phelps: ‘I Can’t See Any More Suicides’

In the documentary “The Weight of Gold,” Phelps presents a stark picture of the mental wear and tear Olympians endure.

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Naomi Osaka Shouldn’t Feel Pressured to Rush Return to Tennis

Osaka’s mental health challenges are nothing new in her isolating sport. What is new is the acceptance she’ll face—and the paths back—if she takes a prolonged break.

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Naomi Osaka: ‘It’s O.K. Not to Be O.K.’

In the past few weeks, my journey took an unexpected path but one that has taught me so much and helped me grow. I learned a couple of key lessons.

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EXPLORE TOPIC

Athlete Well-Being