The International Olympic Committee (IOC), just released an update to its 2019 statement, Mental Health in Elite Athletes: International Olympic Committee Consensus Statement. The 2026 update was produced with the goal of providing health care professionals with a more advanced evidence-based approach to managing the mental health of elite athletes (individuals competing at professional, Olympic or collegiate levels) due to the prevalence of mental health disorders and symptoms among such athletes.

The statement discusses an assortment of specific mental health symptoms and disorders, including sleep disorders, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, substance misuse/use disorders, and more. In total, 63 actionable recommendations were included in the 2026 statement. 

In general, the IOC encourages health care professionals to promote the mental well-being of elite athletes alongside their mental health symptoms and disorders. Health care professionals should recognize that elite athletes’ mental health can shift over time due to the demands of their sport and everyday life, and timely support can improve mental well-being as well as addressing clinical problems. Psychotherapy, medication, and other contextually and culturally appropriate modalities are treatment options appropriate for consideration. The IOC states that the optimal approach is individualized, guided by the diagnosis and the evidence base for particular management strategies.

Below, we’ve outlined key points provided by the IOC. For the complete look at the recommendations included in the 2026 IOC statement, view the full-text version.

IOC 2026 Mental Health in Elite Athletes Key Points:
  • Mental health support for elite athletes should extend beyond individual management and should include assuring that the training environments, leadership behaviours, safeguarding systems and organisational culture are also supporting elite athlete mental health and well-being.
  • Clinicians and sport organisations should proactively address stigma, confidentiality concerns, fear of deselection and low mental health literacy as part of routine elite athlete care.
  • Sport organisations should implement routine screening and surveillance of elite athlete mental health at predefined time points and following significant events.
  • All elite sport settings should establish, rehearse and regularly review mental health emergency action plans with defined roles and escalation pathways.
  • Management of mental health symptoms and disorders should be individualised, evidence-based and culturally responsive, integrating psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy and other contextually appropriate modalities as indicated.
  • Psychological responses to injury should be routinely assessed, and return-to-sport for elite athletes with mental health symptoms and disorders should incorporate athlete safety, stability and function as guiding principles.
  • Athletes should receive targeted mental health screening and support before, during and after major transitions in sport.
  • Mental health assessment and care for elite Para athletes must account for disability-specific stressors, accessibility barriers, classification systems and heightened transition risks.
  • Mental health screening and support for elite adolescent athletes should reflect developmental stage, educational demands, family dynamics and the early onset of many common mental health disorders.
  • Coaches, support staff and health professionals for elite athletes should receive role-appropriate mental health education to support early recognition, safe referral and psychologically informed practice.

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