"I would say that we have broken down taboos, meaning that we talk more openly with friends and colleagues about topics such as depression or anxiety disorders, and we also have many prominent figures who talk about their experiences. I definitely see progress here, and I think that sports are also catching up,"
"In the past, we always said that competitive athletes had to show strength, stamina, and motivation, and mental stress didn't fit into that picture at all. Now, however, we recognize that athletes are more than just their performance, and that we also need health and mental health. And that's not a contradiction to performance, but rather a basic requirement."
"I think the culture of performance is also greatly encouraged by the system, because performance is rewarded,"
"Athletes who are particularly high-performing are promoted, which means that the whole system is somehow based on this performance."
Mental health awareness in German society and sport has increased significantly, with taboos being broken and more open conversations among friends, colleagues, and prominent figures. Recognition of mental health as integral to athlete well-being has grown, and athletes are increasingly viewed as people beyond performance. A performance-focused culture remains dominant because the system rewards output, making implementation of support measures difficult. Football attracts most attention while other sports such as swimming and athletics often have greater unmet psychological needs. Public disclosures by athletes at major events have raised visibility and pushed acknowledgment of mental health issues in sport.
Read at www.dw.com
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