Sports can boost mood, reduce stress, and build confidence, but pressure to win and injuries can also lead to anxiety, eating disorders, and depression among athletes.

Part of Bloomsbury’s Health and Medical Issues Today series, Mental Health of Athletes is divided into three sections. Part I explores different aspects of the complex relationship between athletics and mental health. This includes both the positive and negative mental health impacts sports can have on athletes, as well as how different biological and social factors can influence an athlete’s health. This section also examines the role that age has on mental health, from youth sports to senior athletes, as well as the unique mental health challenges faced by disenfranchised groups such as disabled and LGBTQ+ athletes. Part II features coverage of several high-interest issues in this field, including the risk of suicide among athletes and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on athlete mental health. Part III provides a variety of useful materials, including illuminating case studies, a glossary, and a directory of resources.