Mental health initiative welcomed for athletes in 2021
Published:Friday | January 1, 2021 | 12:11 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
Psychiatrist Dr Aggrey Irons says that the Ministry of Sport’s prospective mental health programme for athletes will be critical as they continue to adjust and manage the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
The initiative, which is expected to be rolled out this year, will provide consultation sessions through the Jamaica Athletes Insurance Programme to assist in addressing their mental well-being. Sport Minister Olivia Grange made the announcement during the handover ceremony of land hurdles to seven schools’ track and field programmes on December 21.
Irons says that the pandemic has created more mental hurdles for athletes to overcome, and the consultations that will be provided under the initiative will help to get them back into a frame of mind to compete.
“Many people underestimate the importance of mental training for athletes, and they do not realise the significance until at competition; it’s always the stronger mental athlete that’s going to emerge victorious,” Irons told The Gleaner. “We Jamaicans have that and it’s been challenged by the COVID-19 experience.”
The pandemic forced the postponement, suspension, and cancellation of sports not only internationally, as with the Tokyo Olympics, which was moved to July 2021, but also locally. This includes the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships, which was cancelled for 2020, and local football, where all results were voided for the 2019-20 season. Football, like many other sports, however, is awaiting governmental approval, and has still not restarted, but others such as horse racing, tennis, track and field, and golf have returned under strict health protocols.
Difficult year
Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association First Vice-President Ian Forbes says that the new programme will be much appreciated by athletes after a difficult year caused by the effects of the pandemic.
“As you know, it has been a challenging time [because of] COVID-19, and it would have impacted our athletes physically and mentally,” Forbes said. “So, this level of support will be most welcome. I’m sure our athletes and their handlers, coaches, managers, and agents will welcome this.”
Grange said athletes will be allocated up to 24 sessions this year and she hopes it will allow them to be in the best frame of mind to resume training for their respective sporting disciplines.
“It will be especially useful as our athletes prepare for the return of sports and the preparation for the Olympics and Paralympic Games,” she said.