Development of Australian mental health guidelines for community sport

Stewart Anthony Vella; Caitlin Liddelow; Simon M. Rice; Richard Keegan; Kate Hall; Mark A. Jones; David Revalds Lubans; Samantha Mcleod; Anthony David Okely; Lisa S. Olive; Rosemary Purcell; Lindsey J. Reece; Simon Rosenbaum; Matthew J. Schweickle; Kelsey Singh; Damien Stewart; Leisl Stimpson; Jordan T. Sutcliffe; Megan Teychenne; Courtney C. Walton; Christian Swann

doi:10.1136/bjsports-2024-108749

Development of Australian mental health guidelines for community sport

Stewart Anthony Vella, Caitlin Liddelow, Simon M. Rice, Richard Keegan, Kate Hall, Mark A. Jones, David Revalds Lubans, Samantha Mcleod, Anthony David Okely, Lisa S. Olive, Rosemary Purcell, Lindsey J. Reece, Simon Rosenbaum, Matthew J. Schweickle, Kelsey Singh, Damien Stewart, Leisl Stimpson, Jordan T. Sutcliffe, Megan Teychenne, Courtney C. WaltonChristian Swann

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Abstract

Objective: The need for clear and actionable guidelines for the promotion and protection of mental health in organised community sport has previously been identified. This study aimed to provide guidelines to promote and protect mental health in organised community sport in Australia. Methods: Guideline development was informed by (1) systematic reviews of the evidence pertaining to existing mental health guidelines in sport and mental health interventions in community sport; (2) an expert Delphi consensus study and (3) key stakeholder input via focus groups. A Guideline Development Committee comprising experts and key stakeholder representatives articulated nine distinct guidelines. Results: These guidelines address the areas of: mental health literacy training; mental health support pathways and processes; responding to mental health emergencies; responding to major events that may impact mental health; having a mental health plan in place; reducing stigmatising attitudes; appointing a dedicated mental health champion; coach education and promoting well-being within the organisation. Conclusions: We provide guidance for promoting and protecting mental health in community sport. Monitoring uptake and measuring the effectiveness of the guidelines are important areas of future work to advance positive mental health for everybody involved in community sport.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-8
Number of pages	8
Journal	British Journal of Sports Medicine
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-108749
Publication status	Published - 2025

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Vella, S. A., Liddelow, C., Rice, S. M., Keegan, R., Hall, K., Jones, M. A., Lubans, D. R., Mcleod, S., Okely, A. D., Olive, L. S., Purcell, R., Reece, L. J., Rosenbaum, S., Schweickle, M. J., Singh, K., Stewart, D., Stimpson, L., Sutcliffe, J. T., Teychenne, M., ... Swann, C. (2025). Development of Australian mental health guidelines for community sport. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-108749

@article{19ad59f28ffa439a856bb13843849be3,

title = "Development of Australian mental health guidelines for community sport",

abstract = "Objective: The need for clear and actionable guidelines for the promotion and protection of mental health in organised community sport has previously been identified. This study aimed to provide guidelines to promote and protect mental health in organised community sport in Australia. Methods: Guideline development was informed by (1) systematic reviews of the evidence pertaining to existing mental health guidelines in sport and mental health interventions in community sport; (2) an expert Delphi consensus study and (3) key stakeholder input via focus groups. A Guideline Development Committee comprising experts and key stakeholder representatives articulated nine distinct guidelines. Results: These guidelines address the areas of: mental health literacy training; mental health support pathways and processes; responding to mental health emergencies; responding to major events that may impact mental health; having a mental health plan in place; reducing stigmatising attitudes; appointing a dedicated mental health champion; coach education and promoting well-being within the organisation. Conclusions: We provide guidance for promoting and protecting mental health in community sport. Monitoring uptake and measuring the effectiveness of the guidelines are important areas of future work to advance positive mental health for everybody involved in community sport.",

keywords = "Psychology, Public health, Research, Sports",

author = "Vella, {Stewart Anthony} and Caitlin Liddelow and Rice, {Simon M.} and Richard Keegan and Kate Hall and Jones, {Mark A.} and Lubans, {David Revalds} and Samantha Mcleod and Okely, {Anthony David} and Olive, {Lisa S.} and Rosemary Purcell and Reece, {Lindsey J.} and Simon Rosenbaum and Schweickle, {Matthew J.} and Kelsey Singh and Damien Stewart and Leisl Stimpson and Sutcliffe, {Jordan T.} and Megan Teychenne and Walton, {Courtney C.} and Christian Swann",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ Group.",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.1136/bjsports-2024-108749",

language = "English",

pages = "1--8",

journal = "British Journal of Sports Medicine",

issn = "0306-3674",

publisher = "BMJ Publishing Group",

}

Vella, SA, Liddelow, C, Rice, SM, Keegan, R, Hall, K, Jones, MA, Lubans, DR, Mcleod, S, Okely, AD, Olive, LS, Purcell, R, Reece, LJ, Rosenbaum, S, Schweickle, MJ, Singh, K, Stewart, D, Stimpson, L, Sutcliffe, JT, Teychenne, M, Walton, CC & Swann, C 2025, 'Development of Australian mental health guidelines for community sport', British Journal of Sports Medicine, pp. 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-108749

TY - JOUR

T1 - Development of Australian mental health guidelines for community sport

AU - Vella, Stewart Anthony

AU - Liddelow, Caitlin

AU - Rice, Simon M.

AU - Keegan, Richard

AU - Hall, Kate

AU - Jones, Mark A.

AU - Lubans, David Revalds

AU - Mcleod, Samantha

AU - Okely, Anthony David

AU - Olive, Lisa S.

AU - Purcell, Rosemary

AU - Reece, Lindsey J.

AU - Rosenbaum, Simon

AU - Schweickle, Matthew J.

AU - Singh, Kelsey

AU - Stewart, Damien

AU - Stimpson, Leisl

AU - Sutcliffe, Jordan T.

AU - Teychenne, Megan

AU - Walton, Courtney C.

AU - Swann, Christian

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Objective: The need for clear and actionable guidelines for the promotion and protection of mental health in organised community sport has previously been identified. This study aimed to provide guidelines to promote and protect mental health in organised community sport in Australia. Methods: Guideline development was informed by (1) systematic reviews of the evidence pertaining to existing mental health guidelines in sport and mental health interventions in community sport; (2) an expert Delphi consensus study and (3) key stakeholder input via focus groups. A Guideline Development Committee comprising experts and key stakeholder representatives articulated nine distinct guidelines. Results: These guidelines address the areas of: mental health literacy training; mental health support pathways and processes; responding to mental health emergencies; responding to major events that may impact mental health; having a mental health plan in place; reducing stigmatising attitudes; appointing a dedicated mental health champion; coach education and promoting well-being within the organisation. Conclusions: We provide guidance for promoting and protecting mental health in community sport. Monitoring uptake and measuring the effectiveness of the guidelines are important areas of future work to advance positive mental health for everybody involved in community sport.

AB - Objective: The need for clear and actionable guidelines for the promotion and protection of mental health in organised community sport has previously been identified. This study aimed to provide guidelines to promote and protect mental health in organised community sport in Australia. Methods: Guideline development was informed by (1) systematic reviews of the evidence pertaining to existing mental health guidelines in sport and mental health interventions in community sport; (2) an expert Delphi consensus study and (3) key stakeholder input via focus groups. A Guideline Development Committee comprising experts and key stakeholder representatives articulated nine distinct guidelines. Results: These guidelines address the areas of: mental health literacy training; mental health support pathways and processes; responding to mental health emergencies; responding to major events that may impact mental health; having a mental health plan in place; reducing stigmatising attitudes; appointing a dedicated mental health champion; coach education and promoting well-being within the organisation. Conclusions: We provide guidance for promoting and protecting mental health in community sport. Monitoring uptake and measuring the effectiveness of the guidelines are important areas of future work to advance positive mental health for everybody involved in community sport.

KW - Psychology

KW - Public health

KW - Research

KW - Sports

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U2 - 10.1136/bjsports-2024-108749

DO - 10.1136/bjsports-2024-108749

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85218800844

SN - 0306-3674

SP - 1

EP - 8

JO - British Journal of Sports Medicine

JF - British Journal of Sports Medicine

ER -

Development of Australian mental health guidelines for community sport

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