"This is a revolutionary step" - India brings psychologist, psychiatrist for athlete’s mental health at Paris Olympics 2024
As the Paris Olympics 2024 inches closer, the Indian authorities have decided to bring a dedicated sports psychologist and a psychiatrist along with the contingent traveling to France to keep the athletes in peak mental condition during the events.
The Indian Olympic Association has made the mental health of all Olympic participants a priority. It has roped in sports psychologist Dr Divya Jain and psychiatrist Dr Samir Parikh as part of the medical team.
Dr Divya Jain, Chairperson of Fortis National Mental Health Program, has previous experience of dealing with sportspersons. She had held virtual consultations for players going through anxiousness caused by the COVID-19 lockdowns and the eventual postponement of the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Now, during the Paris Olympics 2024, she will be able to help the Indian athletes directly from the Olympic Village.
What did the mental wellness experts say about their inclusion in the Paris Olympics 2024?
The inclusion of mental health experts within the Olympic contingent is seen as a landmark move by the Indian authorities.
“This is a revolutionary step. Athletes often face immense pressure and stress, which can affect their performance. By providing them psychological support, we can help them manage their emotions, stay focused, and ultimately perform better,” Dr Divya Jain said in an interview with News18.
Dr Samir Parikh, a senior colleague of Dr Jain and a psychiatrist, agreed with the sentiment.
“Incorporating mental health professionals into the support team is a game-changer. We will be working closely with the athletes to address any mental health issues, whether it’s anxiety, depression, or performance-related stress. Our goal is to ensure that they are mentally and emotionally prepared to compete at the highest level,” he said in the interview.
In an earlier interview with the Hindustan Times, Dr Parikh had said that mental health experts would be available to Indian athletes throughout the Paris Olympics 2024 events and beyond that as well.
“We will be available to assist athletes both before as well as after the Games too,” he told HT.
“The impact of the competition does, after all, tend to go on for longer. We’ll of course be looking at both the performance enhancement aspect – how players are dealing with the pressures and expectations that come with the occasion – while also ensuring mental well-being and managing stress from extraneous factors,” he added.
The Paris Olympics 2024 will start on July 26, and 117 players from the Indian contingent will take part in various events and disciplines.