Mindset mental well-being education resource launched for elite medical staff

World Rugby and International Rugby Players have launched Mindset, a new global mental health and well-being awareness and education resource for elite rugby medics. 

"As with society as a whole, elite sports people are susceptible to mental health conditions, which can be characterised by changes in mood or behaviour and can include anxiety, depression and illness," said World Rugby in a statement.

"A number of education campaigns have been developed by national player associations and unions, but Mindset is the first to focus on educating elite rugby medics. 

"Driven as a key action from the joint World Rugby and International Rugby Players Rugby Athletes’ Commission, the programme has been developed by subject area expert Dr Ella McCabe (Senior Clinical Psychologist with Rugby Players Ireland) and World Rugby Chief Medical Officer Dr Martin Raftery.

"It will be rolled-out across the elite game as a core component within World Rugby’s Tournament Player Welfare Standards, a set of mandatory player welfare stipulations for elite adult competitions."

The programme will:

• Support early recognition of mental health problems
• Provide background information relevant to mental health disorders
• Provide an overview of different mental health disorders and support diagnosis through making available mental health screening tools
• Provide guidelines that support early and appropriate referral to experts – recognise and refer

.@IrishRugby prop Jack McGrath speaks about the importance of the Mindset, a World Rugby and @IntRugbyPlayers resource to help athletes who feel they need support. pic.twitter.com/2XqrXadYnH

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) August 23, 2018