In 2019, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) formulated guidelines on mental health of elite athletes. Symptoms and mental health disorders are common in elite athletes and affect their performance and health. Lay public and experts in the field are often shown that the incidence of these physical and mental health conditions is low among top athletes. The notion that successful athletes can only be mentally strong individuals who are immune to mental health problems is wrong. Mental health cannot be separated from physical health as symptoms and mental health disorders often increase the risk of sports injuries and prolong recovery time (Lagan-Evans et. Al., 2020). Until now there has not been a comprehensive presentation of all aspects of the symptoms and mental health disorders in elite athletes. Understanding mental health of elite athletes is crucial to their holistic treatment.
Due to the enormous size of the field, not all aspects of mental health have been addressed in the same detail. Instead, the thesis focuses on mild mental disorders, eating disorders and RED-S syndrome and anxiety disorders (Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia, [IVZ] 2008).
The method of desktop research was used along with an overeview and analysis of various materials. Data that is already available was collected and analysed. Foreign and domestic literature was used, including a variety of scientific texts (monographs, proceedings, magazine articles and textbooks). In addition to the scientific literature, own experience was also included.
This Master's thesis will serve as a scientific-professional starting point for a manual on quality work with elite athletes, which will describe a holistic approach to working with elite athletes in order to enable their successful and healthy bio-psycho-social functioning. That is why the manual will be intended for kinesiologists, coaches and other sports workers who work with top and recreational athletes.
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