Some sports stakeholders have called for the establishment of structured mental health support systems for athletes, stressing that psychological well-being is critical to performance and long-term career sustainability.

The stakeholders spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
They expressed concern over what they described as inadequate mental health awareness and institutional support within the country’s sports ecosystem.

They also sounded alarm on the state of mental health support for athletes, emphasising the need for increased awareness and resources.

Bunmi Haruna, a CAF-B licensed coach, said mental health awareness in Nigerian sports remains at a rudimentary stage, particularly at the grassroots level.

“The awareness about mental health in sport in the country is still at its beginning stage. Players and coaches have little or absolutely no support,” he said.

According to him, deliberate psychological preparation for athletes is almost non-existent outside the national teams.

He said that  the only time he saw deliberate efforts to prepare players or coaches mentally was at the national U-17 team level when  Dr Robinson Okosun was the team’s psychologist.
“Apart from that, it has been absolutely non-existent in grassroots football here in the country.

“ I think coaches can also be trained on how to help their players in this area. But obviously, there is not enough awareness on mental health in sports in the country,” he said.

Also speaking, Patrick Pascal, Chairman of Bauchi State Football Association, emphasised the importance of balance and self-care in managing pressure within the sports environment.

“It’s all about balance. I make time for self-care, like meditation and exercise, to keep my mind clear. Plus, talking to my team and coaches helps me stay grounded under pressure,”he said.

He urged sports organisations to create supportive environments by promoting mental health literacy, encouraging open communication, and ensuring access to qualified mental health professionals.

Pascal said that in Nigeria, advocacy groups such as the Sports Psychologists Association of Nigeria (SPAN) had continued to champion mental health awareness and resilience-building strategies for athletes.

 “ He identified key strategies to include fostering a culture where athletes can openly discuss mental health challenges without fear of judgment, and integrating mental health education into training programmes,” he said.

Chukwunonso Arinzechi, Sports broadcaster and commentator, said that mental well-being is critical, particularly during high-pressure competitions where athletes face intense scrutiny from fans, media, and personal expectations.

“In high-pressure competitions, the noise can be overwhelming expectations from fans, media scrutiny, personal targets and the desire not to disappoint your team or state.

“The mental health challenges can surface after both losses and victories, warning that support systems should not disappear once tournaments conclude,” he said.

Arinzechi said he prioritises preparation to build confidence and deliberately sets boundaries during major competitions, including limiting social media exposure and avoiding negative commentary.

“Protecting your mental space is very important. I also believe in rest, not just physical rest, but mental rest. In sports, we train the body daily; we must also train the mind,” he said.

He further recommended that sports organisations institutionalise mental health support by ensuring access to sports psychologists, providing mental health education for athletes and coaches.

Others are promoting open communication, managing workloads effectively, and offering post-competition psychological support.

According to him, while awareness is gradually improving in the country, structural systems to support athletes’ mental health remain insufficient.
“In Nigeria, mental health is still heavily stigmatised. Many athletes are told to ‘be strong’ or ‘just focus,’ without acknowledging the emotional weight they carry.

“We need more education at the grassroots level so that young athletes can grow up knowing that seeking help is strength, not weakness.

“At the end of the day, medals and trophies matter, but the human being behind the medal matters more.
“If we build mentally healthy athletes, we will naturally build stronger teams and a stronger sports culture,” he said.

NAN reports that other sports administrators, coaches, and broadcasters emphasised that while conversations around mental health are gradually increasing in the country, institutional support remains largely inadequate, particularly at the grassroots level.

They agreed that prioritising athletes’ mental well-being would not only enhance performance but also strengthen the country’s overall sports culture. (NAN)( www. nannews.ng)