@article{ref1,
title="Barriers and facilitators to mental health help-seeking in elite Gaelic footballers post-injury: a qualitative study",
journal="Research quarterly for exercise and sport",
year="2021",
author="O'Keeffe, Sinéad and Ní Chéilleachair, Niamh and Campbell, Mark and O'Connor, Siobhán",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="PURPOSE: Injury can exacerbate mental health issues in athletes. However, the prevalence of mental health issues is not equivalent to the rate of professional help-seeking, with reluctance to seek-help acknowledged as one of the greatest obstacles in efficient management of mental health issues. The current study aimed to examine perceived barriers and facilitators to professional mental health help-seeking in elite male and female Gaelic footballers post-injury. <br><br>METHODS: Male (n = 14) and female (n = 12) elite Gaelic footballers, with a history of moderate or severe injury, were recruited to participate in a focus group. Group discussions began with a written task where participants noted perceived barriers to help-seeking followed by a group discussion of these barriers. Following discussion, participants ranked identified barriers in order of those perceived as most important in stopping a player from seeking help when experiencing mental health issues post-injury. All three tasks were repeated for help-seeking facilitators. Focus groups were audiotaped, transcribed and thematically analyzed. <br><br>RESULTS: Lack of education, stigma, negative attitudes to help-seeking and accessibility issues were identified as key barriers to help-seeking among elite Gaelic footballers. Education, the attitudes and actions of others and accessibility were perceived as factors facilitating help-seeking. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Given the negative psychological responses that can accompany injury, there is a need for facilitation and encouragement of help-seeking among players experiencing mental health issues post-injury. Interventions for reducing the barriers to help-seeking identified in the current study are necessary.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0270-1367",
doi="10.1080/02701367.2020.1865517",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2020.1865517"
}