The pressures of high level athletics and the mental toll they can take is nothing new to Cambridge native and University of Nebraska gymnast Emma Spence.
That’s why she's thrilled to see the launch of the Coaching Association of Canada’s Mental Health Resource Hub that provides tools for coaches in their attempt to end the stigma and guide discussions centred around mental health with athletes.
The free online portal, which launched on Feb. 16, features training for coaches that helps develop mental health literacy and positive coaching practices.
Spence has been working with a sports psychologist since she was 13 years old and understands that by giving coaches the resources they need, it benefits the athletes.
“Being able to have this resource for athletes and coaches is so important,” Spence said.
“Coaches need to be supportive of mental health. If coaches are able to handle the mental health side of sports better, they’re then able to support their athletes better.”
According to an Angus Reid Institute study in 2022, each year one in four people will experience mental health challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic has only made things worse, as the ratio has now increased to one in three.
Spence has learned that mental health care needs to happen everyday, regardless of how she might be feeling.
While it may sound simple, her routine includes going for walks and spending time outside, spending time with friends and family, journaling, meditating and skin care routines. She also emphasizes the importance of eating and recovering properly.
Being able to take time away from sports is also critical to being able to perform at a high level, Spence says.
“It’s important to be mindful of it even when when your not struggling,” Spence said.
“I’ve learned that doing little things consistently helps keep things from building up inside. I feel that it’s really important to stay on top if it as things can get very busy and stressful in sports. Listen to your body, if you feel you need rest it's important to realize you can take it.”
Spence has been very open about her challenges within gymnastics due to eating disorders and body pressures within the sport.
Late last year while helping Canada qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, she was chosen by the International Gymnastics Federation to assist in a presentation at the Safe Sport Symposium.
The symposium served as an opportunity for athletes to speak openly about their experiences in the sport and any cultural changes they feel are necessary to better support athletes.
The Mental Health Resource Hub is another step in the right direction, but Spence says the stigma associated with mental health still exists.
“Everybody needs to be little more open to the idea and realizing it’s okay to ask for help,” she said.
“I feel like there's still a stigma around it and it can be challenging to reach out for help. Through my experience, being able to ask has been very helpful. It’s all about the support systems around you. Surround yourself with people who care about you.”
The new resource hub can be access by visiting coach.ca.
