7 Tips for Navigating Mental Health as a Strength and Conditioning Professional

Strength and conditioning professionals connect daily with athletes, clients, tactical personnel, or students — which means the potential to notice subtle shifts before others. But what's next if you sense someone (or yourself) might be struggling mentally? Spotting concerns early and responding effectively can make a profound difference.

Unmanaged psychological stress directly impacts focus, decision-making, injury risk, recovery, and performance — making mental health awareness integral to your effectiveness as a strength and conditioning professional.

Important: If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency, immediately call emergency services or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. and Canada.

1. RECOGNIZE COMMON MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS

Mental health issues affect almost 20% of adults. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), nearly 1 in 5 adults experience mental illness each year. Someone you coach today might be facing common mental health challenges such as:

• Anxiety: Persistent worry, restlessness, trouble concentrating, or disrupted sleep.
• Depression: Low mood, fatigue, decreased interest, appetite or sleep changes.
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Hypervigilance, irritability, withdrawal, exaggerated startle response — especially common among tactical populations exposed to trauma regularly.
• Eating Disorders: Preoccupation with weight, distorted body image, rapid weight fluctuations, restrictive or obsessive eating patterns.
• Substance Use Disorder (SUD): Behavioral changes, isolation, decreased performance, inconsistent attendance, or signs of withdrawal.

Signs can vary widely from person to person. Casual banter or minor complaints often reflect a healthy coach-athlete relationship and don't necessarily signal deeper concerns. Trust your instincts: if something feels off, it’s worth exploring.

2. SPOT SIGNS OF STRESS BEFORE IT BECOMES DISTRESS

Stress itself isn’t inherently harmful — athletes regularly manage it to enhance performance. However, unmanaged stress can escalate into distress, where the body is no longer able to cope. Consider the stressors your training population may be experiencing:

• Physical Stress: Intense training loads, early morning sessions, inadequate recovery.
• Sport Stress: Team dynamics, anxiety over roles, status, or performance expectations.
• Personal Stress: Family responsibilities, social pressures, financial concerns, and academics (especially among student-athletes).
• Environmental Stress: Extreme temperatures, high-altitude training, travel demands.
• Psychosocial Stress: Social media pressures, harassment or discrimination, relationship difficulties.

People experiencing distress may try to conceal their symptoms from others. Be proactive by incorporating simple mental health checks into your routine. Subjective methods, such as quick conversations and readiness questionnaires assessing mood and stress, along with objective measures, like heart rate variability (HRV) and other performance analytics, can offer invaluable insights.

3. LEAD THE CONVERSATION WITH EMPATHY

If you spot signs of stress or distress in non-emergency situations, your next step is a sensitive yet vital conversation. Robyn Whitehead, PhD, and Travis Weisbrod, CSCS, share these tips for approaching the moment empathetically:

• Listen More Than You Speak: Provide a safe space for them to express feelings without fear of judgment.
• Validate Their Experiences: Say things like, “That sounds difficult,” or “Your feelings are completely understandable.”
• Ask Open-Ended Questions: Encourage dialogue with questions like “Can you tell me more about how things have been going for you lately?” or “What’s been on your mind recently?” rather than simple yes/no questions.
• Demonstrate Empathy: Use reflective listening (“It sounds like you’re feeling overwhelmed — is that accurate?”).
• Respect Autonomy: Let them guide the conversation and decisions about next steps.

Avoid pressing for details about trauma, making jokes, trivializing feelings, or prematurely offering solutions. Your goal is connection and care — not diagnosis or treatment.

4. PROMOTE MENTAL RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE

While treating mental health disorders falls beyond your scope, you can help others develop resilience and healthy coping mechanisms. Encourage practices like:

• Relaxation Techniques: Box breathing, mindfulness meditation.
• Physical Activity: Recreational exercise or activities outside of training.
• Mental Detachment: Hobbies outside the gym, deliberate breaks from stressful tasks.
• Social Engagement: Building supportive connections within teams or groups.

Exercise itself significantly benefits mental health, improving symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and substance use disorders by enhancing overall psychological well-being.

5. STAY WITHIN YOUR SCOPE AND ENSURE CLEARANCE

Clearly understand your professional limits. You play a crucial role, but unless you’re specifically trained and credentialed in mental health, avoid diagnosing or treating conditions. Instead, stick to:

• Observing and recognizing concerning signs.
• Having empathetic, supportive conversations.
• Educating on general benefits of physical activity for mental wellness.
• Referring to mental health professionals when needed.

Be mindful of comorbidities and always ensure physician clearance and compliance with medical recommendations for exercise programs when necessary.

6. BUILD YOUR REFERRAL NETWORK AND RESOURCE LIBRARY

Don’t wait until a crisis to establish relationships with local mental health experts (counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, registered dietitians). Check out these starting points:

• American Psychological Association (APA) Psychologist Locator: Search by location, provider name, or practice area.
• Local Licensing Boards: Find professionals through your state or province’s registry or medical licensing board.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Find resources and local support.
• Psychology Today: Search for therapists, psychiatrists, treatment centers, or support groups.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Find comprehensive substance abuse and mental health resources.
• QPR Institute: Get "Question, Persuade, Refer" suicide prevention training.

Regularly update your contacts and mental health resources so you can confidently provide information and referrals.

7. PRIORITIZE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND SELF-CARE

As you support others, don’t forget yourself. A 2022 study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (JSCR) found that 32.6% of strength and conditioning coaches reported personal burnout, and 27.7% experienced work-related burnout. Your role carries significant emotional and physical stress — without self-care, burnout is a real risk.

Set boundaries, deliberately recover, and openly acknowledge the demands of your role. Prioritize regular physical activity, adequate sleep, mindfulness, and social connections beyond your environment. Self-care isn’t selfish — it’s essential to your effectiveness and well-being as a professional.

FINAL THOUGHTS: YOUR ROLE GOES BEYOND PERFORMANCE

Mental health awareness requires constant vigilance as a strength and conditioning professional. You’re uniquely positioned to recognize early signs of distress, have impactful conversations, and positively influence someone’s mental well-being. By staying educated, building robust referral networks, and prioritizing self-care, you set the stage for healthier, happier, and higher-performing individuals and teams

Further Reading and Resources

• Building Resilience to Stress and Trauma Through Lifting Heavy Things on NSCA TV
• Considering the Mental Health of Athletes, NSCA Coach Article
• Implications of Psychological Trauma for Tactical Athletes and Human Performance Professionals, TSAC Report Article
• Mental Health Collection in the Strength and Conditioning Journal (SCJ)
• Mental Health & Resilience Series on NSCA TV (Watch Free)
• National Strength and Conditioning Association’s Endorsement of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Sport Science Institute’s “Mental Health Best Practices: Inter-Association Consensus Document: Best Practices for Understanding and Supporting Student-Athlete Mental Wellness,” SCJ Article
• The Role of Exercise in Anxiety and Depression: Background and Practical Considerations, PTQ Article
• TrueSport Talks: Mental Wellness and the Modern Coach Collection on NSCA TV
• TSAC Report – First Responder Column – July 2024 – The Impact of Exercise and Fitness on First Responders’ Mental and Physical Health
• 10 Actionable Tips: Support Youth Mental Health Through Sports (PDF)