"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,"
"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 improved dramatically over the last decade. Taboos around depression and anxiety have been reduced, and conversations among friends and colleagues have become more open. Prominent public figures have shared personal experiences, increasing visibility and acceptance. Athletes are increasingly recognized as whole people whose health and mental health are prerequisites for performance rather than contradictions to it. A performance-focused culture persists and is reinforced by systems that reward top results. Football gets the most attention, while sports such as swimming and athletics often need greater psychological support, and implementation remains uneven.
Read at www.dw.com
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