In this #AMHW2026 panel, we take a closer look at the mental health challenges coaches face, from performance pressure and burnout to balancing leadership and personal wellbeing. Panelists share practical strategies coaches can use to care for their own mental health, while also creating healthier, more supportive environments for their athletes.
Audience: Coaches
Women in Sport | Redefining Strength in Mental Health
None of This Was Supposed To Happen
Without that brotherhood of football, I never would have made it.
You’re Far More Than an Athlete
How youth sports overtraining can lead to burnout, injury, and poor performance.
Senators’ Linus Ullmark opens up about personal leave: ‘I felt like I lost myself’
Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark took a personal leave of absence in early 2026 to address serious mental health struggles, including severe anxiety and panic attacks.
How sport psychologists are helping Olympians in Italy
Psychologists address mental health issues and train athletes to strengthen their mind like a muscle alongside the body
How to Help Your Child See Themselves as More Than an Athlete
A dedication to sport is great, but an all-encompassing obsession isn’t.
Anxiety’s impact on athletic performance
When nervousness intensifies beyond a window of tolerance to heightened levels of anxiety, athletic performance can decline.
Supporting Mental Health in Athletes Starts with You
Coaches are often the first to notice when something is off with an athlete.
The Mental Side of Youth Sports | Student-Athletes Speak Out
This powerful panel brings together high school and college student-athletes to shine a light on the often-overlooked mental side of youth sports. Athletes from water polo, field hockey, lacrosse, and track share honest, first-hand experiences navigating the pressures of competitive athletics.
Pressure, Pain, and Purpose. Men’s Mental Health in Sports Panel
What does men’s mental health really look like in sports? Moderated by Dr. Mena Mirhom, this powerful panel discussion brings together athletes and mental health experts to explore how pressure, pain, and purpose shape men’s mental health in sports and beyond. Featuring former NFL running back Montee Ball alongside leading voices Dr. Pratik Mehta, Rawle Andrews Jr., Esq. and Joel Hark, M.Ed., the conversation blends lived experience with professional insight. Panelists discuss:
👉 The impact of performance pressure on men’s mental health
👉 Navigating stigma, identity, and vulnerability in sport
👉 Why mental health support must extend beyond the field
👉 How athletes, teams, and organizations can create healthier, more supportive environments
This conversation highlights the importance of normalizing mental health conversations for male athletes and empowering men to seek support—both during their careers and in life after sports. This panel was filmed in celebration of Athlete Mental Health Week 2026, presented by Athletes for Hope, Hilinski’s Hope, the Kevin Love Fund, Morgan’s Message, The Hidden Opponent, and the Sarah Shulze Foundation. For more mental health resources, visit athletewellbeing.org. If you are in crisis, or experiencing thoughts of suicide, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
AGE APPROPRIATE COACHING, DEVELOPMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS AND COACHING STRATEGIES
Knowing where your players are emotionally, physically, and developmentally, will help you coach them more effectively.
Adaptive Ally Toolkit
The Adaptive Ally Toolkit is created for all Athlete for Hope athletes, with the goal of education and empowerment.
Mental Health Q&A w/ Olympians Natalie Coughlin, Maya DiRado & USOPC Sport Psychologist Sean McCann
Olympians Natalie Coughlin and Maya DiRado chat with U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee Sport Psychologist about maintaining mental health during periods of upheaval.
Q&A with Sabres sports psychologist Amanda Edwards
Ahead of Mental Health Awareness Night, Edwards discusses her work with NHL athletes.
Why Athletes Continue to Die by Suicide
Awareness has grown, but athlete suicide remains a leading cause of death in collegiate sport.