Mental health in the Australian Football League

Mental health refers to a person's mental state, well-being, and ability to cope with the daily stresses of life. Good mental health also means that one has the ability to be mentally resilient, have a good life balance, having an absence of mental disorders and the ability to enjoy life. Elite athletes such as those competing in the Australian Football League(AFL) can experience a range of stressors that are unique to the sporting environment, such as performance pressure, travel, selection pressures, racial vilification and abuse, and public and media scrutiny. Studies show that elite athletes experience mental health challenges and conditions at rates that are reasonably comparable with the rest of the population. While elite sport can come with additional stressors for athletes, sport can also promote wellbeing, with athletes, including Australian Rules footballers, experiencing higher rates of flourishing and emotional wellbeing than their non-athlete counterparts.