In the world of sport, the spotlight often falls on physical fitness, performance, and winning. However, the mental well-being of athletes, coaches, and leaders is just as crucial to success.
For those in leadership roles, whether you’re a coach, team manager, or executive, mental health awareness should be at the forefront of your responsibilities. In today’s high-pressure sports environment, fostering a culture that prioritises mental well-being can make the difference between a thriving, resilient team and one that crumbles under stress.
The month of October has been declared Mental Health Awareness month by the South African government with the objective of not only educating the public about mental health but also to reduce the stigma and discrimination that people with mental illness are often subjected to.
Dr Koketjo Tsebe who has worked with South Africa’s elite athletes, including the Proteas Women at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates speaks on the importance of mental wellness for those tasked to lead.
Photo: World Rugby
“Mental health drives and shapes narrative and has an impact on how people relate to each other in a specific environment. So it’s important for the leader to be aware of their own state of mental health and that of the rest of the company or the team. Advocates for mental health services should allow them to be able to open up about mental health and whenever they seek assistance, they should be supported in a form of wellness programs, medical aids, whatever form of support it could be.”
If you’ve recently been appointed into a position of leadership in your team, newsroom and the like, the Team SA Psychologist advises that you need to allow yourself to settle in into the role.
“By learning, you learn about the team culture. Learn about the style of work, learn about your responsibilities as a leader. Learn about the colleagues or people in your team. Initiate relationships because in that way you build on trust and acquaint yourself with so many things as possible. But don’t rush the process. Be eager to suddenly want to bring about changes.
“Also set goals. The goals for now, mid-term and long-term and those will be accompanied by implementation.”
Renowned Elite Athlete Psychologist, Dr Koketjo Tsebe
As a leader, your role goes beyond tactical training and game-day strategy. You set the tone for how mental health is perceived within your organisation. In a high-pressure, highly competitive environment where a lot is at stake, it is easy for some relationships or interactions to be toxic within the team. The leader needs to be aware of how people relate amongst each other to avoid the team or work environment to be a cause for mental health decline.
Dr Tsebe elaborates: “Toxic relations can come in different forms, you could observe an ongoing tension, absenteeism or late coming.
“Certain abnormal patterns could be an indicator of toxic relations between people. Which means leaders should have a proactive way to manage such or to have resources to know what to do the they observe toxic relations between the team.
Athletes face intense pressure, not only to perform but also to manage the expectations of fans, sponsors, and themselves. This pressure can lead to anxiety, depression, burnout, and other mental health issues that, if left unaddressed, can seriously hinder performance and personal well-being. Leaders in sport must recognise that mental health challenges do not discriminate based on skill level or status. Even the most talented athletes are not immune to struggles with mental wellness.
Dr Tsebe, who is also a senior lecturer at Unisa, adds that while maintaining high performance, leaders should actually take care of themselves.
“Be able to disconnect and connect because I think at times the relationship of the leaders within a given environment makes them very difficult to at times cool off. Take time off, and then come with a refreshing view and refreshing connection to a given environment so that they can maintain high performance.
“Always constantly being at work, is most likely going to increase on high stress levels. Or if one is not aware of their blind spots in terms of their working style, because working styles and the way we do things also has capacity to influence on the stress levels.
“So they should be able to develop a healthy working style, be aware of their blind spots, and constantly find ways on how to improve on their leadership style and how they approach their task on a daily basis.“
Dr Tsebe adds that work-life balance plays a crucial role: “You still have to find joy outside work, because what happens if your joy is only linked to work? What happens when you’ve got difficulties with work? It’s going to be very difficult, because it will define your work. So it’s always important to balance that, to have a social life, to have a personal life, to belong in different structures which you enjoy.
Ultimately, prioritising mental health in sport isn’t just about preventing problems—it’s about optimising performance, building resilience, and ensuring that the people under your care thrive both on and off the field. Leaders who champion mental health awareness will not only strengthen their teams but also leave a lasting, positive impact on the future of sport.
Main Photo Caption: October is Mental Awareness month in South Africa, and renowned Proteas Women Psychologist Dr Tsebe says that leaders can play a vital role in fostering a culture that prioritises mental well-being, an edge that can make the difference between a thriving team and one that crumbles under stress. All Photos: Supplied
Photo 2 Caption: Athletes face intense pressure, not only to perform but also to manage the expectations of fans, sponsors, and themselves. Photo: Supplied
Photo 3 Caption: Dr Tsebe recommends that leaders develop a healthy working style, be aware of their blind spots, and constantly find ways to improve. Photo: Supplied
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