Rahul K. Maharaj’s Post

You can make a positive impact on your mental health & community. We encourage you to raise your voice and advocate for mental health awareness. To learn more about ways you can make a difference and to sign up for advocacy alerts please visit Sign Up for Advocacy Alerts - National Council for Mental Wellbeing (thenationalcouncil.org) #MentalWellbeing #YourVoiceMatters #Advocacy 

Take care of your mental health

In the context of the #OlympicGames, we have heard about the #mentalhealth of athletes, and many, such as Simone Biles, have spoken openly about the emphasis they place on their mental health. The term "sports psychologist" and their role in the preparation of athletes has also been mentioned. The field of sports psychologists was introduced in the late 18th century both academically and clinically and has been recognized by official bodies (e.g. APA), and since 1988, they have participated in the Olympic Games (Carr, 2006). Their role lies in bridging "absolute" and "relative" performance, where the first depends on genetic characteristics and techniques, while the second on physiology (e.g. fatigue) and psychological condition. (Gee, 2010). In particular, in terms of the psychological state, although the presence of moderate stress increases the performance of athletes, its excessive presence could bring the opposite effects by reducing motor skills, the ability to change attention, etc. (Gee, 2010). Thus, their role can focus on: - cognitive preparation: setting comparative realistic goals, short- and long-term, focusing on the process of an action rather than the result, developing new skills and strategies for the goals, supporting the goal and participating in the evaluation of the process. - management of physical stresses (e.g. tightness in the stomach, rapid breathing): techniques of management of the autonomic nervous system, muscle relaxation, techniques for concentration, mental visualization of goals and desired situations (Carr, 2006. Gee, 2010). In addition to supporting their preparation, their presence during rehabilitation after an injury is important. The athlete psychologist can contribute to deconstructing the reactions of the athletes, in advisory support, in sensitizing the experience, in strengthening the self-confidence up to the return to the games and during the matches (Carr, 2006). Finally, the role of the sports psychologist in training coaches in the above elements and in supporting them in the formation of healthy training environments where coherence and competition prevail has been highlighted (Kelly et al., 2018). Carr, C. M. (2006). Sport Psychology: Psychologic Issues and Applications. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America, 17(3), 519–535. doi:10.1016/j.pmr.2006.05.007 Gee, C. J. (2010). How Does Sport Psychology Actually Improve Athletic Performance? A Framework to Facilitate Athletes’ and Coaches’ Understanding. Behavior Modification, 34(5), 386-402. https://lnkd.in/dNtqh-FG Kelly, S., Thelwell, R., Barker, J. B., & Harwood, C. G. (2018). Psychological support for sport coaches: an exploration of practitioner psychologist perspectives. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36(16), 1852–1859. doi:10.1080/02640414.2018.1423854

These three words can make all of the difference to someone.

Today marks the beginning of the second half of Mental Health Month. Advocating for mental health is crucial. Let's remember that advocacy and communication are key to supporting mental health worldwide. #MentalHealthAwareness #Advocacy #Communication

What an excellent demonstration of taking a mental health moment. As a fellow advocate for mental well-being, I deeply appreciate Simone's courageous message. It's crucial that we continue to challenge the mental health stigma, which often prevents people from seeking the support they need. Let's keep pushing for greater understanding and openness in this vital area. #mentalhealthmatters #takeadeepbreath

In my coaching practice I pick a topic each month to focus on, for my social media and other activities. August is for Courage. You’re looking at courage here. #courage #strength #resilience #lifeciaching

Mindfulness can be practiced everywhere to access your peace and safe space within. :)

On every level and at every age...

Today marks the beginning of the second half of Mental Health Month. Advocating for mental health is crucial. Let's remember that advocacy and communication are key to supporting mental health worldwide. #MentalHealthAwareness #Advocacy #Communication