“Athletic pressures can teach kids how to navigatestressful life events and build resilience in the face ofdefeat,” Simon explained. “[They] can improve kids’self-esteem by providing a sense of mastery as theylearn a new skillset and feel empowered to overcometheir own insecurities. However, if the pressure toperform results in significant impairment in personalfunctioning—as evidenced by problems with sleep orappetite, significant weight loss or weight gain, de-cline in grades, distressing anxiety or mood symp-toms—then it may be time to reconsider whethercontinuing the sport is healthy for this child.”

Sports provide exer-cise, a way to meet friends, and a place to learnskills like perseverance, teamwork, and prob-lem-solving.5 These positive ex-periences can enhance theirlives in important ways.“Successful game play canincrease self-esteem and confi-dence and improve [a child’s]overall self-image,” BirgitAmann, MD, medical directorand founder of the BehavioralMedical Center in Troy, Michi-gan, told Psychiatric Times™ .“They can learn the importanceof developing and using patienceand learn the value of practicing their sport.”

e frequently observe media portrayals, socialmedia commentary, coaches, and even parents, whoview mental health difficulties as a sign of weakness,”said Wilsa M.S. Charles Malveaux, MD, MA, asports psychiatrist in Los Angeles, California, and theCEO of WCM Sports Psych. “Changing the dia-logue around mental illness and being more openabout challenges can help to decrease this stigma.