Head Game: Mental Health in Sports Media

Professional athletes are sharing their own experiences with mental illness, challenging stereotypes and promoting greater understanding of mental health in sports media. The book "Head Game: Mental Health in Sports Media" explores how media has been used to advance this understanding and recommends ways for current and future athletes to disclose and seek support.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 210 pages
Publication date: 06 January 2023
Publisher: Peter Lang Publishing Inc

We are witnessing a transformative shift in the portrayal of mental health in the sports media, driven in part by prominent professional athletes like Michael Phelps, Kevin Love, Naomi Osaka, and Simone Biles, who have bravely shared their personal journeys with mental illness. These athletes are challenging stereotypes that suggest individuals grappling with mental health issues are destined to lead unfulfilling lives.

From quarterbacks to pitchers, power forwards to Olympic swimmers, athletes across various sports are increasingly using the mass media, including social media, to openly discuss their experiences with depression, anxiety, and other disorders.

In the documentary film "Head Game: Mental Health in Sports Media," interviews with key athletes, renowned journalists, and sportscasters, as well as organizational and league leaders, shed light on how the media has been utilized—and can be further leveraged—to promote greater understanding of mental health. The athletes, representing a diverse range of professional sports, share their personal stories of navigating mental illness within the locker room, on the field, and in the spotlight. They discuss the challenges they faced, as well as the opportunities they encountered, and offer valuable insights for current and future generations of athletes.

One of the key themes of "Head Game" is the significance of these disclosures in the context of professional sports, where athletes are often trained to be tough from a young age. Any mental illness can lead to reduced playing time, harassment, and even stigmatization. By sharing their experiences, these athletes are breaking down barriers and helping to destigmatize mental health issues in sports.

The film also highlights the critical role of media moments in shaping public perception and driving the movement toward greater awareness and support for mental health in sports. Billings and Parrott examine the key media moments that have contributed to this shift, the storytellers who have influenced them, and the institutional response that has followed.

"Head Game" is a groundbreaking work that brings attention to one of today's most pressing public health crises, one that has been long overlooked and marginalized. Through the lens of sport, the film offers a powerful platform for raising awareness, promoting dialogue, and fostering change. It serves as a testament to the resilience and strength of athletes who have faced mental health challenges, and encourages others to seek help and support in their own journeys.

In conclusion, the portrayal of mental health in the sports media is undergoing a seismic shift, thanks to the courageous actions of professional athletes like Michael Phelps, Kevin Love, Naomi Osaka, and Simone Biles. By sharing their personal stories and challenging stereotypes, these athletes are paving the way for greater understanding, support, and destigmatization of mental health issues in sports. The documentary film "Head Game: Mental Health in Sports Media" is a valuable contribution to this movement, providing a compelling and informative exploration of the challenges and opportunities faced by athletes and the media in addressing this critical public health crisis.

Weight: 320g
Dimension: 151 x 226 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781433191091
Edition number: New ed