Supporting the Mental Health of Postsecondary Student-Athletes: Implications From Literature for the Canadian Context

Canadian postsecondary athletics can have a positive impact on the mental health of student-athletes, yet a significant proportion of student-athletes experience mental health issues. Student-athletes encounter unique stressors, which can contribute to high prevalence rates of mental distress. Moreover, in comparison to nonathletes, student-athletes are less likely to seek mental health support due to barriers like stigma. Research on this topic has predominantly focused on the United States, limiting the understanding of the Canadian context. To address these gaps, this article critically reviewed the literature on student-athletes' mental health, including articles from the Canadian context as well as transferable ideas from articles in the U.S. context. The findings of the review indicated key barriers, facilitators, interventions, and resources to help inform the practice of mental health practitioners in Canada working with postsecondary student-athletes.