[1a502-04] 競技スポーツ研究部会【課題B】口頭発表①

3:50 PM - 4:10 PM JST(6:50 AM - 7:10 AM UTC)

[競技スポーツ-B-02] Preliminary development and implementation of a mental health literacy education for sport teams（心）Mental health literacy in competitive sport settings

*Yasutaka Ojio^1,2 (1. National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 2. The University of Tokyo)

Background: While the importance of mental health support for athletes and coaches has gained increasing recognition, the lack of structured and context-specific educational opportunities remains a significant challenge. This study aimed to develop and implement a feasible, team-based mental health literacy education program in Japan using the Japanese version of the Mental Health in Elite Athletes Toolkit published by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and to explore its preliminary effects. Methods: Team-based sessions were conducted with competitive sports teams by a collaborative team comprising trained athletes and mental health professionals. The program included psychoeducational modules on mental preparation during competition, the relationship between mental health and performance, and strategies for self-care and help-seeking. Audiovisual materials were also incorporated. Program effectiveness was evaluated at three time points—pre-program, post-program, and follow-up—using validated measures of psychological safety in elite sport environments (Sport Psychological Safety Inventory; SPSI), mental health literacy (MHL), and intention to seek help. Results: The program was designed to facilitate athletes’ ability to verbalize their mental states and to foster more proactive help-seeking behavior. As of this writing, preliminary pre–post comparisons were conducted with 11 participants. Significant improvements were observed in SPSI scores (from 22.6 to 29.5, p <  .001) and MHL scores (from 30.1 to 36.6, p <  .001). These findings are based on interim data and should be interpreted with caution. Updated results based on a larger sample will be presented at the conference. Conclusion: This program demonstrates potential as a practical, athlete-centered educational model to promote mental health literacy in sport settings. Future directions include scaling up the program to more teams and participants, integrating coaches and staff, and conducting long-term follow-up to evaluate sustained impact. Ongoing implementation and systematic evaluation will be essential to establishing the utility and generalizability of the program across diverse sporting contexts.