Promoting mental health in esports

This perspective paper highlights the need to place mental health at the center of esports research, policy, and applied practice. The article argues that esports athletes face a combination of high-performance demands, industry-specific stressors, and developmental vulnerabilities, particularly because many players compete during adolescence and early adulthood, a life stage associated with increased risk for common mental health difficulties. Authors emphasize that mental health in esports should not be reduced to gaming addiction, but should include broader concerns such as depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, well-being, stress, and access to support. Additionally, the article identifies several esports-specific stressors that may affect mental health, including performance pressure, expectations, coping with defeat, in-game uncertainty, communication difficulties, interpersonal conflict, toxic team behaviors, public criticism, low social support, unprofessional organizational structures, long practice hours, work-life imbalance, sedentary routines, musculoskeletal issues, and sleep disruption. It also notes that female esports athletes may face additional barriers such as stigma, gender discrimination, and online harassment.

The authors call for comprehensive mental health support systems tailored to esports. These systems should include mental health literacy, early intervention, sleep and lifestyle education, coping-skills training, screening procedures, referral pathways, and access to qualified mental health professionals who understand esports culture and performance demands. The paper concludes that esports organizations, coaches, performance staff, parents, tournament organizers, and other stakeholders share responsibility for creating safer environments that protect and promote player mental health.

Citation: Kegelaers, J., Trotter, M. G., Watson, M., Pedraza-Ramirez, I., Bonilla, I., Wylleman, P., Mairesse, O., & Van Heel, M. (2024). Promoting mental health in esports. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1342220. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1342220

Link: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1342220/full