How Parents Can Use Lessons From The Olympics To Support Their Child's Mental Health
The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France have offered people worldwide an opportunity to learn more about athletes’ lives off-camera. Many athletes are speaking up about the mental health challenges they experienced in pursuit of their dreams, intending to break the stigma associated with mental health in athletics. Parents may find that these Olympians’ stories can be helpful lessons for their children when broaching the subject of mental wellness. For further parenting guidance, it may be helpful to speak with a licensed therapist.
Learn from the Olympics: The 2024 Olympics and mental health
Several athletes have made statements about mental health and stigma during the 2024 Olympics, including the following.
Michael Phelps: A gold medal champion
Noah Lyles: Insights from his blog and social media presence
Noah Lyles is an American sprinter who has been open about his struggles with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, depression, and anxiety on his personal X social media page. He hopes that people can find the inspiration to follow their dreams despite any struggles they may be facing.
Keely Hodgkinson
Keely, an English middle-distance runner, won Olympic gold in the 2024 competition and discussed her previous struggles with mental and physical health. Before she ran in the Olympics, she had a non-cancerous brain tumor that temporarily resulted in an inability to walk. She explored how depression after competing made it difficult for her to get out of bed and talked about how she motivates herself to continue.
Simone Biles: August 2024 updates
Simone Biles made Olympic history in 2020 by pulling out of the competition to focus on her mental health. Although this was a controversial decision, she sparked a conversation about mental health in sports that led to more athletes speaking out. In 2024, Simone continued to protect her mental health by attending therapy before competing. On August 2nd, 2024, she posted a photo on Instagram with the caption, “Mental health matters,” which received over 3.5 million likes.
Imane Khelif
Imane Khelif faced extreme harassment, bullying, and online hate after her opponent, Angela Carini, dropped out shortly after their Olympic boxing match began. Many people online began to accuse Imane, a cisgender woman, of being a transgender woman and argued that it was unfair for her to compete.
Khelif spoke out about how this challenge impacted her mental health, stating, “It can destroy people. It can kill people’s thoughts, spirits, and minds. It can divide people. And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying.”
Khelif tries to stay off social media to protect her mental health and focus on competition, but she is filing a lawsuit against several individuals and organizations who perpetuated the cyberbullying. Imane’s story can showcase the harm online speculation and bullying can have on individuals, as well as the importance of prioritizing mental health, which can often involve limiting social media use.
The benefits of talking to your kids about mental health: Lessons at home instead of via social media and blogs
Children begin to learn about the world from the moment they are born, and topics like mental and physical health can take time to fully grasp because children are usually still learning about their bodies and processing their individuality. Mental health conditions may most commonly develop after the age of six, although any child can struggle with their mental health.
Parents can foster an environment of safety, love, trust, and openness by starting the conversation in an age-appropriate manner and helping children learn to regulate their emotions and speak up when they’re struggling. Other benefits of talking to your children about their mental health might include the following:
- Showing them they’re not alone
- Letting them know they can come to you when they’re struggling
- Providing emotional support
- Teaching them that their emotions are not “bad” and can be a normal part of growing up
- Showing them that their parents also experience mental health challenges sometimes
- Reducing the chance of internalized stigma that might be picked up in other environments, such as school or peer environments
- Teaching them about the importance of speaking up against injustices
- Encouraging them to speak up if they’ve been hurt or have gone through a traumatic event
August 2024 lessons from the Olympics to teach children about sports and mental health
Children can gain insight into their mental health and learn from the Olympics. Below are a few valuable lessons that may help children cultivate good sportsmanship, appreciate different cultures, and foster an Olympic spirit.
Anyone can achieve their dreams, regardless of mental health status
Olympic athletes come from all backgrounds and have various body types and experiences. With so many athletes speaking up about mental health, parents can use these stories to show their children that even elite athletes may struggle sometimes, and being skilled at a sport doesn’t necessarily mean someone is immune to mental or physical struggles. Parents can encourage their children to follow their dreams, even when experiencing difficult emotions, and show them the power of not giving up.
Lessons from the Olympics: All body types are beautiful and capable in sports
By sharing photos of Olympic athletes of all sizes and presentations with your children, they can see people who reflect the diversity of humanity. Remind your kids that weight, size, muscle definition, height, and other physical characteristics do not define their ability to follow their dreams. Explore how different athletes train different muscle groups and areas of their body depending on the Olympic sport in which they compete.
Teamwork, support systems, mutual respect, and socialization can be important for mental wellness
Being a part of a team can often motivate, inspire, and comfort athletes during high-stakes competitions. Show your children pictures and videos of the different Olympic teams and interviews where they talk about how their teammates support and lift them up. You might also talk to your children about how nurturing their social connections can be an important part of life and overall well-being.
Learn from the Olympics: Cultural awareness can be crucial
The Olympics showcase athletes from hundreds of countries worldwide with different cultures, languages, and experiences. By observing athletes from various cultures, children can learn more about diversity, acceptance, and intersectionality. Talk about how they can expand their understanding of the world and be accepting of peers in their own lives who might have different backgrounds or experiences.
Winning a competition is not always the end goal in the Olympic Games
Children often desire to be the center of attention because of the developmental stages they’re experiencing and their need for parental love and attachment. However, this desire can sometimes lead children to believe that winning or being the “best” is more important than any other aspect of competition.
Show your children how all Olympic athletes on a team typically support each other and celebrate the friendly competition, regardless of who wins or doesn’t. Let them know that getting picked for the Olympics can be seen as an accomplishment in itself, and competing can be as rewarding as being given the top score.
How to support a child who wants to become an athlete
If the Olympics has inspired your child to become an athlete, don’t discourage them from this dream. Encourage them and remind them of their capabilities. You might also support them by enrolling them in school or community sports, ensuring they have the materials they need for their preferred sports, and attending their games to cheer them on. You can show them the stories of other Olympic athletes in their youth and how those people built their way up to being picked for the Olympics.
Understanding the Youth Olympic Games
The Youth Olympics are an elite sporting event for teens aged 15 to 18. This competition is held in the same city and country as the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Thousands of athletes from all over the world are picked.
The next competition will be in Dakar, Senegal, in 2026. Athletes can qualify for the Youth Olympic Games by contacting the National Olympic Committee in their country. They must have experience in other championships and qualifying events.
Lessons from the Paralympics
The Paralympic Games can offer insight into mental and physical health for children and teens, further showing young people that they can achieve their goals regardless of obstacles and accessibility challenges. Athletes in the Paralympics often face various challenges that can impact their mental health, such as exclusion, oppression, ableism, and performative allyship from others. Their resilience, confidence, self-love, and drive to achieve their dreams can be inspiring for kids and teenagers.
Beyond the gold medal: General mental health support for parents and teens
Anyone can experience mental health challenges, and parents may find therapy a helpful resource for self-regulation strategies and parenting guidance. However, some people might choose not to work with a therapist due to barriers like cost, time, and discomfort with in-person therapy. In these cases, online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp may be more accessible. Teens aged 13 to 19 can also access online therapy through a platform like TeenCounseling.
Online therapy platforms typically offer flexibility by allowing clients to choose a session time that works for them, including outside of standard business hours. In addition, clients can access resources like group sessions, worksheets, and journaling prompts for more comprehensive care.
Studies suggest that internet-based therapy can be effective, especially in helping parents improve their emotional regulation skills and ability to emotionally support their children.
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