[Teddy Nguyen (right), a high school varsity soccer player, and myself before our interview. Photo Credit: Minsoo Park]

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) introduced new mental health initiatives to support athletes at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris.

One significant development was the launch of a new artificial intelligence (AI) powered cyber abuse protection service, which took down thousands of abusive posts before they reached the athletes.

Additionally, in partnership with Coca-Cola, a new ‘Athlete 365 Mind Zone x Powerade’ welcomed athletes into a safe space promoting mindfulness and relaxation with trained staff at hand.

This zone underscored the IOC’s belief that mental health and physical health are two sides of the same coin.

An IOC specialist team was also deployed to guide athletes through activities and engage in confidential chats, which supplemented the trained psychologists and psychiatrists that were available.

Within the new Mind Zone, athletes could prioritize their mental health through immersive virtual reality (VR), which takes place in disconnection pods and encourages athletes to employ visualization exercises for sleep benefits.

Finally, the Mentally Fit Helpline offered dedicated, confidential, and anonymous support throughout the Paris Games.

Trained counselors available 24 hours a day in over 70 languages offer around-the-clock support for athletes to talk about any subject.

Surprisingly, the support will remain accessible for athletes for four years after the games until July 2028, showing the IOC’s commitment to supporting athletes’ mental health for the duration of their careers.

During an interview with high school varsity soccer player, Teddy Nguyen, he outlines how his high school is supportive of their athletes in the realm of mental health.

Teddy starts by talking about his role on the team, “I’m a senior and play as a midfielder for our varsity soccer team. Soccer has always been a huge part of my life. It’s not just about the game for me; it’s a way to connect with my teammates and express myself.”

The pressure faced by high school athletes is often incredibly high, which may lead to an increased number of mental health issues, due to the pressure to succeed.

In recognition of the effort that his high school has been putting in, Teddy states, “Our school has really stepped up in the past couple of years. We have regular workshops focused on mental health, where we learn about stress management, mindfulness, and recognizing when someone might be struggling.”

He adds, “There’s also a counselor dedicated to student-athletes, which makes it easier for us to reach out if we need support.”

It seems that much like the Paris Olympics, high schools are improving their efforts to aid students with mental health issues through workshops and dedicated counseling.

Teddy shared his personal experience with these resources, saying, “I remember feeling overwhelmed during finals last year. I reached out to the counselor, and she helped me come up with strategies to balance my schoolwork and soccer. It was a relief to talk to someone who understood the pressure we face.”

Looking ahead, Teddy mentions upcoming initiatives that his school plans to implement in the future.

“There’s been talk of guest speakers, interactive sessions, and even some fun team-building exercises all as a way to improve student morale and team building.”

For Teddy’s high school, the support offered for their athletes in terms of mental health support seems incredibly beneficial for all involved.

As Teddy mentioned, balancing academic work with sporting endeavors can be quite overwhelming, therefore schools having a safety net to offer mental health support could alleviate some of the pressure on high school students.