Being a professional athlete is physically demanding, but the constant pressure of being the best at the highest level can also be mentally taxing, with the latter still being overlooked.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 according to Breanne Nicholas, whoB次元官网网址檇 be lying if she said she hasnB次元官网网址檛 gone through low times during her career. The co-captain of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 womenB次元官网网址檚 rugby sevens team says athletes of their caliber have been known to put on a brave face for the field even if they werenB次元官网网址檛 where they needed to be mentally that day.

B次元官网网址淪ometimes you feel like B次元官网网址極h I donB次元官网网址檛 want to bring this to the team or the training environment so you either bottle it in or seek help elsewhere,B次元官网网址� Nicholas said.

As high-level performers, theyB次元官网网址檙e also bound to go through injuries eventually and the impacts of those sometimes months-long recoveries on an athleteB次元官网网址檚 mental state can be worse than the physical toll, she said.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e like B次元官网网址榃ell if IB次元官网网址檓 not performing, if IB次元官网网址檓 not doing what IB次元官网网址檓 meant to do then, whatB次元官网网址檚 my purpose?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 why the sevens squad has put a focus on mental health as Nicholas said theyB次元官网网址檝e created a freeness to talk more openly about those issues.

B次元官网网址淎t the end of the day, we are people first.B次元官网网址�

Nicholas and womenB次元官网网址檚 sevens head coach Jack Hanratty are mental health ambassadors for the Coaching Association of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 new Sport Resource Hub, which aims to equip coaches across the country with mental health literacy. The Public Health Agency of Canada-funded hub looks to serve all levels of sport as many return to playing fields amid a waning pandemic that was tough on peopleB次元官网网址檚 mental health.

For a long time, Hanratty said the norm in sports was athletes needed B次元官网网址渕ental toughnessB次元官网网址� to succeed. He hopes to shift to a system that fosters his athletesB次元官网网址� competitive thirst alongside and through mental wellness.

His interest in mental health first-aid derived from the days he was coaching players ranging from those in their mid-teens to their early twenties.

B次元官网网址淵ou basically see the ups and downs and we started to ask the question of B次元官网网址榟ow you doing and can we help?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Hanratty said. B次元官网网址淲e noticed at the time that a lot of our players were actually answering B次元官网网址榊eah IB次元官网网址檓 actually not doing great.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

The coaching staff then turned to counsellors and mental health associations across Canada to learn more about how to ask if someone is okay, how to process that information and what to do with it. With his team Canada group, Hanratty now runs check-ins with players at the start and end of every week, along with having the team do a morning wellness exercise.

The multi-faceted approach looks to enable a safe point of contact for players to flag issues whether or not theyB次元官网网址檙e comfortable with talking face-to-face. Hanratty said reaching out for help is an incredibly daunting and intimidating thing for athletes, so he hopes the new national mental health hub will give coaches the right resources for when players look to confide in them.

B次元官网网址淩ecently athletes have said just knowing that information is being looked at, talked about and acted upon is just a safe space in itself,B次元官网网址� the rugby coach said.

The hub will also provide resources for coaches taking on the extra strain of trying to support athletes.

B次元官网网址�(ItB次元官网网址檚 important to do) a little checklist about how am I the individual feeling myself and have I put myself into a good mindset to deliver that safe environment that we strive to have everyday,B次元官网网址� Hanratty said.

The conversation around mental health in sports has recently hit the small screen as itB次元官网网址檚 a driving theme of the Emmy-winning comedy Ted Lasso.

B次元官网网址淲e all know someone or have been that someone ourselves, actually, thatB次元官网网址檚 struggled, thatB次元官网网址檚 felt isolated, thatB次元官网网址檚 felt anxious, thatB次元官网网址檚 felt alone,B次元官网网址� the showB次元官网网址檚 star Jason Sudeikis said during a visit to the White House this week. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 actually one of the many things thatB次元官网网址�we all have in common as human beings and that means itB次元官网网址檚 something we can all, and should, talk about with one another.B次元官网网址�

A big theme of the show is checking in with neighbours, coworkers, friends or family to ask how theyB次元官网网址檙e doing, the actor who plays a pro soccer coach continued.

B次元官网网址淲hile itB次元官网网址檚 easier said than done, we also have to know that we shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be afraid to ask for help ourselves. And that does take a lot, especially when itB次元官网网址檚 something that does have such a negative stigma.B次元官网网址�

Nicholas hopes to stomp out that stigma in sport and spread awareness about mental health. While nothing else matters once theyB次元官网网址檙e on the field, bottling stuff up eventually catches up with players but they donB次元官网网址檛 need to carry that burden, the rugby player said.

B次元官网网址淚f we can get it to not be at that point then thatB次元官网网址檚 what weB次元官网网址檙e shooting for.B次元官网网址�

READ: