For athletes and non-athletes alike, mental and physical health are inseparable. The same pressures that shape an athlete’s performance—stress, expectation, fatigue, self-doubt—show up in the lives of everyday people juggling demanding jobs, caregiving roles, or major life transitions. The stage may differ, but the strain feels remarkably similar, and both can be addressed with a team approach.
Dr. Rachel Lyon, a clinical psychologist and clinical lead at Homewood Health—Canada’s leader in mental health services—sees these parallels every day. She notes that high-performing individuals may delay seeking mental health support due to a strong sense of self-reliance, and high expectations of their ability to solve problems independently.
“That belief that they need to be able to hold or handle all stress and challenges on their own can lead to delays in seeking treatment,” says Dr. Lyon.
This certainly rings true for skeleton athlete Hallie Clarke, who was thrust into the spotlight when she won gold at the 2024 IBSF World Championships, becoming the youngest ever skeleton world champion.
“Being one of the youngest in our sport, I always felt like I had to act older and pretend I knew everything, and that trickled into the mental side of things,” said Clarke. “When the time came that I really did need help, it took so long for me to be able to ask for it, because for years I had been in that ‘fake it ‘til you make it’ attitude.”
So what exactly might a mental health practitioner work on with a high performer? The short answer is, it depends on the individual.
“It’s going to depend on what we collaboratively decide are the presenting needs and goals of the individual,” says Dr. Lyon.
Dr. Lyon explains there are three primary areas that she considers as a psychologist:
- Proactively building skills and habits that help people to manage their overall mental health
- Developing strategies to allow individuals to cope and regulate more effectively in moments of stress
- Assessing and treating clinical symptoms that may represent mental health disorders
The big picture: Habits, goals, and self-reflection
When it comes to athletes, Dr. Lyon says some of the big picture items she would tackle might include setting boundaries between sport and personal life, encouraging downtime and planning activities external to sport, as well as lifestyle factors like sleep habits, which support mental wellness.
Cross-country skiers Antoine Cyr and Xavier McKeever have both found that a journaling practice has also been a crucial way to stay in touch with how they’re feeling, as well as document the work they’ve put in towards goals.
“I do a lot of self-reflection exercises after training sessions or races,” said Cyr, who competed at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. “I think they’re really good to either turn the page and move on, or to reflect on reasons to be proud and happy.”
McKeever was first exposed to the benefits of working with a sport psychologist through his high school sports program. His final years of high school, as well as his training and racing opportunities, were dramatically altered by the pandemic. After a disappointing season, the isolation of the pandemic, and the emotional weight of an ill family member, McKeever realized he might need some outside help.
“That’s the moment where I learned how impactful mental health can be, and how all of a sudden you can just feel like you’ve been trampled by an elephant,” said McKeever.
He reached out to the same sports psychologist he saw in high school, and the two of them started working on figuring out what mental health and mental performance looks like specifically for McKeever.
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