Get the pros to exorcise your inner demons

New Straits Times

a day ago

This is part 2 of a three-part series on mental health of Malaysian athletes by Timesport
KUALA LUMPUR: National athletes should not hesitate to seek help for mental health issues and there is no stigma in seeking professional support, said National Sports Institute (NSI) chief executive officer P. Vellapandian.
Vellapandian, who is a trained sports psychologist, said mental health issues — including performance-related pressure, anxiety, depression or burnout — are becoming common in elite athletes.
"If an athlete is struggling, I strongly encourage them to come forward and speak to us," he said.
"The doors at NSI are always open. They can come directly to me or consult our sports psychologists. All sessions are confidential, and we will ensure they get the help they need."
NSI offers a range of services related to both performance psychology and mental health.
Vellapandian said NSI's psychologists usually work on areas such as goal setting, arousal control, injury recovery, confidence building and emotional regulation. These services are regularly used by athletes under the Podium Programme, Pelapis and Road to Gold (RTG) initiatives.
However, in cases where an athlete's condition appears clinical — such as signs of depression or extreme anxiety — NSI will refer them to certified mental health specialists for a formal diagnosis and further treatment.
"We have the tools and partnerships in place. If the issue is clinical, we will carry out an evaluation and refer them to a licensed mental health expert for proper treatment, including diagnosis and follow-up care."
Vellapandian said global figures indicate that approximately 34 per cent of current elite athletes show symptoms of anxiety and depression, while the figures for retired athletes stand at around 26 per cent. Malaysian athletes, he added, are no exception.
"Anxiety, depression, burnout, eating disorders — these are real issues. And they are common in high-performance sports, even if they are not often discussed."
He said while most athletes are comfortable seeking help for performance-related matters, there is still some reluctance when it comes to addressing mental health from a clinical perspective.
"There's still a stigma, especially when it comes to depression or anxiety. Athletes may feel like it's a weakness or worry about people think of them.
"But mental health is just as important as physical health. In other countries, athletes walk into the mental health support rooms without hesitation. We want that same openness here."
To help create a supportive environment, NSI psychologists also conduct field observations during training, in addition to one-on-one and group consultations.
This allows them to detect behavioural changes that may not surface in formal sessions.
"Mental health isn't only about performance. It involves an athlete's lifestyle, environment, personal experiences, even their spiritual grounding. We take all of that into account.
"We have medical officers, recovery programmes, sports nutritionists, performance analysts, biomechanists — all working together.
Vellapandian.