Mental health in figure skating

sekhmets · Oct 12, 2018

It seems like recently a lot more skaters are opening up about dealing with mental health struggles. Perhaps this has always been an issue, but I haven't followed the sport long enough to know of many other cases. Is this an inherent issue within figure skating, or is it common among all competitive sports? And is there anything more that federations should be doing to support skaters experiencing such struggles?

macy · Oct 12, 2018

Gabby Daleman posted today on Instagram she has taken a break from training to focus on her mental health.

I think theres such a stigma and negative perception of mental health issues not just in sports but in general that people just dont speak up when they're struggling. I can't speak for other sports but skating is 80% mental and 20% physical. I was a huuuuge headcase of a skater when I competed and I never knew how to deal with it. Eventually it led to me throwing in the towel and stopped competing. If your mind isnt healthy, or if you dont know how to deal with negative thoughts in a sport that requires a sound mind at all times to be successful, it can be really really difficult. I still struggle to this day with thought patterns I struggled with as an athlete, not to mention eating issues, although that's another topic.

I think it's really important that federations make it clear to their athletes they are 100% supportive of their mental health and can provide resources for help no matter what level you are, but especially elites. I dont know if USFS has any resources available already, but I think if they had been more transparent about it gracie may have gotten help a lot sooner, and it wouldn't have taken for her to lash out at champs camp.

mrrice · Oct 12, 2018

I truly applaud these skaters for being open about how they're feeling mentally. I didn't skate but, most of you know that I danced professionally from a very young age. When you're young and spend your life around adults, it's fine until you become an adult and discover that you have nothing in common with your peers. The worst part is that most people don't "Get It." You appear to have everything so how can you be depressed. I truly wish these skaters the best as they deal with their problem.

frida80 · Oct 12, 2018

Being in an environment that's all about competition and results cannot be healthy if that's the only thing in your life. Following these skaters on instagram has been a real eye opener. Hours in the gym, on ice, traveling, planning, dealing with the media, traveling all over for competitions, tours, choreography, specialist... Dealing with hard losses. Dealing with the pressure. Struggling with their country's massive expectations. It sounds like a pressure cooker.

Gabby had a terrible meltdown at the Olympics. One where she didn't have a chance to simply grieve for that moment. In top of her injuries, I'm glad she's taking time to herself to heal.

Orlov · Oct 12, 2018

Can anyone explain what this mean "focus on her mental healt"?

Translation of this phrase into Russian by google-translation is frightening for me. Something related to mental hospitals, pills, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" etc.

Surely, it's about something else, right?

P.S. For moderators. It seems to be prohibited by the rules to discuss the mental state of skaters. But I just want to understand what the skater said (my english is very bad, sorry), because its confuses me a lot.

rachno2 · Oct 12, 2018

Orlov said:
Can anyone explain what this mean "focus on her mental healt"?

Translation of this phrase into Russian by google-translation is frightening for me. Something related to mental hospitals, pills, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" etc.

Surely, it's about something else, right?

P.S. For moderators. It seems to be prohibited by the rules to discuss the mental state of skaters. But I just want to understand what the skater said (my english is very bad, sorry), because its confuses me a lot.

“Focusing on mental health,” in modern discourse, usually refers to depression and/or generalized anxiety and stress. It means to temporarily set aside the things in your life that are giving you stress and focus on your own peace of mind, self esteem, and ability to cope with stressful situations. You could think of it as эмоциональное здоровье. The idea is that even if these problems do not require medication/hospitalization (though they might!), they are still legitimate health problems that require care and attention.

ETA: if I understand correctly, Gabby has also struggled with eating disorders in the past, and these can be accompanied by depression.

DanseMacabre · Oct 12, 2018

Orlov said:
Can anyone explain what this mean "focus on her mental healt"?
Translation of this phrase into Russian by google-translation is frightening for me. Something related to mental hospitals, pills, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" etc.
Surely, it's about something else, right?

It could mean that she's struggling with a mental illness like depression or an anxiety disorder. Sometimes those conditions require hospitalization and medication; sometimes they don't. It could also simply mean that she needs a break from the sport for a while. The phrase "mental health" encompasses all of that. "Physical health" refers to the health of the body, while "mental health" refers to the health of the brain/mind (though it's worth noting that many mental illnesses ARE physical illnesses in the sense that they're caused by chemical imbalances in the brain). Since Gabby's post on instagram simply refers to "mental health" without detailing specifics it would inappropriate to speculate further about what's ailing her.

I'm glad Gabby's prioritizing her health. Sometimes, pushing through illness or injury (mental or physical) does more harm than good in the long term. Here's hoping she feels better soon.

This isn't about countries or coaches. Anyone, regardless or nationality or environment, can suffer from mental health issues. They're like any other illness. Gabby deserves to be treated with kindness and compassion just like anyone else.

I'm glad people like Yulia, Gabby, Gracie, Ashley, Akiko, and Adam Rippon (he's discussed this publicly in order to shed light on eating disorders also affecting men in the sport) are talking about this sort of thing. People are more likely to seek the help they need if they aren't shamed into silence for it.

ETA: Removed references to deleted post

Haleth · Oct 12, 2018

I'd say if anything mental health disorders are vastly underreported in sports, considering the long-held stigmas in most societies. Only very recently has it become _slightly_ more acceptable to discuss it openly. Some feds are a bit better than others in providing mental health support, but, reflecting things like the wealth and cultural attitudes of their societies at large, but all have been largely failing their athletes on the mental health front for a very long time. Note that gender, race, ethnicity, etc. can also affect whether mental health disorders are diagnosed, treated, reported, and prevented. For example, cis boys and men may underreport more than cis girls and women, considering the toxic ideas about masculinity and stoicism that are a part of many cultures to the present day.

Rather than derailing this thread with nationalistic taunts since most societies are not doing well re: mental health care, I hope we can agree that the sport would be very much improved with actual on the ground mental health resources for skaters from the earliest stages onward.

Sai Bon · Oct 12, 2018

DanseMacabre said:
It could mean that she's struggling with a mental illness like depression or an anxiety disorder. Sometimes those conditions require hospitalization and medication; sometimes they don't. It could also simply mean that she needs a break from the sport for a while. The phrase "mental health" encompasses all of that. "Physical health" refers to the health of the body, while "mental health" refers to the health of the brain/mind (though it's worth noting that many mental illnesses ARE physical illnesses in the sense that they're caused by chemical imbalances in the brain). Since Gabby's post on instagram simply refers to "mental health" without detailing specifics it would inappropriate to speculate further about what's ailing her.

I'm glad Gabby's prioritizing her health. Sometimes, pushing through illness or injury (mental or physical) does more harm than good in the long term. Here's hoping she feels better soon.

And Yulia Lipnitskaya suffered from an eating disorder. So did Akiko Suzuki. This isn't about countries or coaches, and it's incredibly tone deaf of you to try to start that drama in this thread. Anyone, regardless or nationality or environment, can suffer from mental health issues. They're like any other illness. I don't know if it's an ED that Gabby's dealing with right now, but regardless, she deserves to be treated with kindness and compassion just like anyone else.

I'm glad people like Yulia, Gabby, Gracie, Ashley, Akiko, and Adam Rippon (he's discussed this publicly in order to shed light on eating disorders also affecting men in the sport) are talking about this sort of thing. People are more likely to seek the help they need if they aren't shamed into silence for it.

Daisuke Murakami also mentioned he had an eating disorder in his video announcing his retirement.

I think it's not a new problem in the sport, but it has become more acceptable to talk about it. Those of you who saw the John Curry documentary will recall that he suffered severe mental health issues, even after turning pro. Skaters these days are under much more pressure because of technological advances making it extremely difficult to switch off, not to mention greater opportunities for sponsorship.

I'm sorry to hear about Gabby - I wish her a speedy recovery.

karne · Oct 12, 2018

I think it's a positive sign that the athletes are feeling more empowered to discuss their mental health issues. And once athletes start doing it more, being more open, then it might help with society in general. There is a terrible stigma surrounding mental health, and there shouldn't be. For too long it's been portrayed as a weakness, a negative, somehow a black mark against your personality/being. We would not say someone is weak if they broke their leg, or got gastro. But too many people say someone is weak if they have a mental health issue.

I hope she's able to take as much time as she needs and gets the help she needs.

Orlov · Oct 12, 2018

DanseMacabre said:
It could mean that she's struggling with a mental illness like depression or an anxiety disorder.

Well, thank God. In short, as I understand it, this is just cultural differences - you just call these things such a terrible term.

It's like Kolyada - after the Olympics, he was subjected to terrible criticism, because of him we lost a chance for gold in the team competition. Everybody scolded him, commentators and TAT scolded him. Misha said that after that failure skating night, he had shock condition "as if I was constantly shooted by a machine gun near the wall". Then there was a failure in the singles competition. After the Olympics, Misha, by his own admission, completely left the social networks, did not read any news and concentrated only on his training to the World Championship.

In my terms it was kind of "Misha lowered social pressure on himself to sort out his own state of mind and increase self-esteem", as far as I understand, in terms of your society, it was “focus on mental health”

Mathman · Oct 12, 2018

"Focus on mental health" is so vague and all-inclusive that it could mean anything or nothing. At this very moment I am "focussing on my mental health."

Speaking of cultural differences, I had to look up the spelling of "focussing." In the U.S.A., one s is preferred. In England and Australia, they go with two eses. (Now i had to look up the plural of "s."

Orlov · Oct 12, 2018

Haleth said:
...considering the toxic ideas about masculinity and stoicism that are a part of many cultures to the present day.

Sorry, but this is unethical and unwise - so rude attacking foreign cultures and value systems.

For example, in many respects I do not share the value system of the Western world, but in no case will I call any of them “toxic”. Please be more respectful to other cultures.

el henry · Oct 12, 2018

Orlov said:
Well, thank God. In short, as I understand it, this is just cultural differences - you just call these things such a terrible term.

It's like Kolyada - after the Olympics, he was subjected to terrible criticism, because of him we lost a chance for gold in the team competition. Everybody scolded him, commentators and TAT scolded him. Misha said that after that failure skating night, he had shock condition "as if I was constantly shooted by a machine gun near the wall". Then there was a failure in the singles competition. After the Olympics, Misha, by his own admission, completely left the social networks, did not read any news and concentrated only on his training in the World Championship.

In my terms it was kind of "Misha lowered social pressure on himself to sort out his own state of mind and increase self-esteem", as far as I understand, in terms of your society, this is “focus on mental health”

“Focus on mental health” may encompass far more than “self esteem”, as I think has been mentioned earlier.

Treatment, medication, hospitalization for a broken leg is not a terrible thing. Treatment, medication, even hospitalization for mental health is not a terrible thing either.:confused2:

karne · Oct 12, 2018

Orlov said:
It's like Kolyada - after the Olympics, he was subjected to terrible criticism, because of him we lost a chance for gold in the team competition. Everybody scolded him, commentators and TAT scolded him. Misha said that after that failure skating night, he had shock condition "as if I was constantly shooted by a machine gun near the wall". Then there was a failure in the singles competition. After the Olympics, Misha, by his own admission, completely left the social networks, did not read any news and concentrated only on his training to the World Championship.

What happened to Kolyada showed that nobody there learned a damned thing from what they did to Artur.

Orlov · Oct 12, 2018

karne said:
What happened to Kolyada showed that nobody there learned a damned thing from what they did to Artur.

What kind of Arthur are we talking about? tbh, I am not very attentive to male figure skating.

karne · Oct 12, 2018

Orlov said:
What kind of Arthur are we talking about? tbh, I am not very attentive to male figure skating.

Gachinski. After the disaster of Nice 2012 he was torn to shreds by the Russian press, public, fans, and officials. Blamed entirely for the loss of the second men's spot (nevermind that he wasn't the only one in Nice and Voronov had also skated extremely poorly). Artur never recovered from that treatment. And he was called weak. Even on his retirement the head of the federation said he was never any good.

gsk8 · Oct 12, 2018

Overall wellness encompasses both mental and physical health. Athletes that have a good support system and/or sport psychologist know this. So by saying, "I need to work on my mental health" doesn't imply a mental illness is present. It could simply mean "although I'm in good physical health, I need some time to myself to do things that make me happy."

withwings · Oct 12, 2018

Orlov said:
Sorry, but this is unethical and unwise - so rude attacking foreign cultures and value systems.

For example, in many respects I do not share the value system of the Western world, but in no case will I call any of them “toxic”. Please be more respectful to other cultures.

No one was attacking anyone. And o say so exactly IS a mental issue.

Orlov · Oct 12, 2018

karne said:
Gachinski. After the disaster of Nice 2012 he was torn to shreds by the Russian press, public, fans, and officials. Blamed entirely for the loss of the second men's spot (nevermind that he wasn't the only one in Nice and Voronov had also skated extremely poorly). Artur never recovered from that treatment. And he was called weak. Even on his retirement the head of the federation said he was never any good.

I have been interested in FC in detail only since the spring of last year, so I am not aware of this.

People scolded Misha, but kind of "scolded with loving" (yes, I understand how paradoxical it sounds

). Come on, we love Misha. People really liked how Misha answered calmed and with dignity on the question about the critic TAT - "She is not my trainer".

From public personalities, it was more of an emotion from commentators, like Trankov commented wonderful SP skating Tarasova/Morozov on team event after the Misha failure - "our girls save us! I want to send one of our man skater untie Zhenya's (Tarasova) shoelace on skates, wipe them and bring her bag to the bus! Why our boys can't concentrate as much as girls?", or after Aliyev’s awesome SP on single competition joyful commented TAT said "It would be right if he skated on team competition"

But none of the official (okey, except TAT, but TAT is TAT) did not reproach Misha for anything, as far as I remember.

Mental health in figure skating

sekhmets

macy

mrrice

frida80

Orlov

rachno2

DanseMacabre

Haleth

Sai Bon

karne

in Emergency Backup Mode

Orlov

Mathman

Orlov

el henry

Go have some cake. And come back with jollity.

karne

in Emergency Backup Mode

Orlov

karne

in Emergency Backup Mode

gsk8

withwings

Orlov

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