The Climate Reality Project’s Post

It’s an exciting week for my friends at the Women's Sports Foundation, which not only celebrates its official 50th (!!) birthday tomorrow — but is kicking off May as Mental Health Awareness Month with a slew of new data proving that sports participation is tremendously helpful for girls in battling depression, stress and anxiety. Anecdotally, I think we all know we feel better/lighter/happier after a good run or other workout — but the data-driven insights in this report are pretty fascinating, including: 🥎 Sports sampling reaps more mental health benefits than specialization and/or extreme levels of competition. 🧢 Supportive coaches who foster team cohesion are critical to creating an experience that benefits girls’ mental health. ⏳ Long-term participation in sports has a direct correlation to improving mental health — which is especially notable when 45% of girls are dropping out of sports by the age of 14. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gMb2ZsWf #MentalHealthMonth #MentalHealthAwareness #WomenInSports

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡, 𝐥𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠❣ 🏟️ New research delves into the positive impact of sports viewing on #mentalhealth and #community connections. 🧠 A groundbreaking study led by Prof. Shintaro Sato from Waseda University, Japan, reveals that watching sports activates brain reward circuits, leading to improved happiness and pleasure. 🌍 Beyond entertainment, sports foster a sense of belonging and community, benefiting individuals and society as a whole. 👫🏾 This sense of connection not only makes individuals feel good but also benefits society by improving health, enhancing productivity, and reducing crime. 📊 The study, published in Sports Management Review, combines neuroimaging, surveys, and data analysis to understand the link between sports viewing and well-being. ⚽ Findings show that popular sports like soccer and baseball significantly enhance well-being compared to less popular ones. 🎉 Moreover, neuroimaging results demonstrate that regular sports viewing may induce structural changes in the brain's reward system over time, offering long-term benefits for mental health. #MentalHealthAwareness #SportsPsychology #BrainScience #PublicHealth #WellBeing

In this month's #ISMTE #EditorialOfficeNews I AM EDITOR Veronica Young discusses tackling #professional performance from a different point of view. #impostersyndrome #HEMA #psychology #editors #scholarlypublishing https://lnkd.in/eNxRDsh7

I am pleased to share that Dr. Namgyeong Jang, a visiting Fulbright scholar (2022-23), and I have co-authored a new article examining how consumers perceive athletes who disclose their mental health issues and seek help. One study found that approximately 35% of elite athletes struggle with mental health challenges but the prevailing sports culture and public stigma, which often label seeking mental health support as a sign of weakness, exacerbate these problems. In our study, we wanted to examine (1) whether consumers actually show negative views towards athletes who disclose mental health issues, and (2) how they perceive sponsors of such athletes, based on the sponsor's communication stance. Our two experimental studies were inspired by Naomi Osaka's withdrawal from the French Open due to mental health concerns, and the varied reactions from her sponsors to her decision. Our findings reveal significant insights into the public perception of athlete mental health and the role of sponsor support in shaping brand authenticity. We also examined how individuals' mental health stigma level interacts with these perceptions. (Please message me if you would like to read the full article.) https://lnkd.in/gEPP6c4h

Professor Chris Harwood, Director of NTU’s Sport, Health and Performance Enhancement (SHAPE) Research Centre, recently joined The Sport Psych Show podcast with host Dan Abrahams. This episode delves into a project and paper that contributed to a REF2021 impact case study, showcasing an innovative approach to organisational change and parent engagement in tennis. 🎾 Professor Harwood’s research focuses on the psychosocial aspects of athlete development, wellbeing and performance—emphasising the vital roles of coaches, parents and broader social environments. Tune in here: https://lnkd.in/dS7DrU3p #NTUresearch #SportsPsychology #YouthSport

Research is the foundation of knowing what works to prevent injuries like concussion. Thanks CAPT and Sport Information Resource Centre - Le Centre de documentation pour le sport (SIRC) for sharing this new knowledge on #ParachuteNIPD National Injury Prevention Day. #TurnSafetyOn

The Journey of Elite Athletes – Part 3 The journey of an elite athlete includes several key stages, each marked by distinct feelings: 1. Getting Started: Kids learn the basics and feel excitement and happiness. 2. Talent Recognition: Promising players are selected for advanced training, bringing pride but also pressure to impress. 3. Intensive Training: Determination is high, but athletes may feel overwhelmed. 4. Going Pro (Junior to Senior Transition): The excitement of contracts is often overshadowed by pressure. Only 20-30% of athletes successfully navigate this transition. In soccer, less than 1% of academy players reach the professional level. 5. Facing Problems: Injuries and performance issues can lead to feelings of frustration and isolation. In Sweden, about 15% report moderate to severe anxiety, and 22% experience symptoms of depression. 6. Bouncing Back: With the right support, athletes can recover. However, current solutions are often reactive and neglect mental health, leaving athletes feeling isolated in their struggles. To address these issues, we must prioritize mental well-being alongside physical performance. The current landscape is often reactive, focusing on performance while neglecting mental health. Many existing programs lack the supportive community athletes need, leaving them isolated. I believe in the power of perseverance and the importance of creating a proactive approach to mental health in sports. By fostering resilience early, we can help athletes navigate their journeys more successfully, turning challenges into opportunities for growth.

Own your sensitivities. Wear them like a badge of honour. When you own your sensitive nature, no one can use it against you." - Ash Alves Over the years, I’ve dedicated countless hours studying human psychology and the neurobiology behind mental health disorders, including sports psychology. But with all honesty, I wanted to understand my own brain. It’s a topic I bring into conversations whenever and wherever I believe an impact can be made. Athletes are often perceived as unbreakable, but the truth is they are as human as anyone else—vulnerable, sensitive, and sometimes struggling. More athletes are starting to speak up about mental health, and it’s powerful. But real change happens when we—the viewers, the followers, the supporters—create safe spaces for them to seek help and have their voices heard. It’s not weakness. It’s courage. It’s not sensitivity. It’s strength. Let’s normalize that. - On a similar note, I’m incredibly proud to share the launch of the FIFA 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞, led by Ornella Desirée Bellia. My team and I have dedicated relentless energy and passion to curating this initiative, designed to empower players beyond the pitch. It’s not just about physical performance. It’s about building futures, protecting well-being, and creating spaces where athletes thrive as people first. Modules: 1. The success playbook: Navigating football management 𝟐. 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 3. Winning off the pitch: Mastering life and financial planning 4. Inspire, innovate, influence: Personal branding and communication 5. For the world and for the people: The power of philanthropy 6. Business Case Studies Applications are now open. Please share: https://lnkd.in/e4uw_Ax3 Congrats team and those who have helped in the process: Alvaro Ruiz-Ocaña, Marcos Picalló Aguilar, Alvaro Carias, 𝐑𝐢𝐦 𝐀𝐢𝐝𝐢, Vesela Stoilova, Nisrein Al Qaisi, Federico Pérez, Thiago Slovinski Garcia #mentalhealthmatters

Grateful to have been part of the Women's Sports Foundation and William Massey's research team on "Thriving Through Sport: The Transformative Impact on Girls’ Mental Health." This report provides new data that underscores the critical role sports can play in boosting positive mental health. The report findings make clear that playing sport can have a positive impact on girls’ mental health, including lower levels of depression and anxiety symptoms and higher levels of peer relationships and meaning and purpose. - Rates of clinical mental health disorders are 1.5 to 2.5 times lower for current sport participants vs. those who never played.  - Girls who play sports report stronger peer relationships, meaning and purpose - 1.5 times higher scores (across these markers) - compared to those who never played. - In high quality sport settings - where the focus is on goal setting and developing skills over time vs. winning and social comparisons -, girls have much better mental health.