| Title: |
Psychological services delivered to Team USA Olympic and Paralympic athletes after positive screen on the SMHAT-1 questionnaires |
| Authors: |
Amber Donaldson; Jonathan Finnoff; William M Adams; Travis Anderson; Eric G Post; Ashley N Triplett; Jessica Bartley |
| Source: |
BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, Vol 11, Iss 4 (2025) |
| Publisher Information: |
BMJ Publishing Group, 2025. |
| Publication Year: |
2025 |
| Collection: |
LCC:Medicine (General) |
| Subject Terms: |
Medicine (General); R5-920 |
| Description: |
Objective This study examined the follow-up outcomes of Team USA athletes who exceeded thresholds on the SMHAT-1 questionnaire prior to the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.Methods A total of 847 SMHAT-1 assessments were completed (Paralympic, 26.7%; women, 52%). Questionnaires exceeding established thresholds were classified as a positive screen, which elicited follow-up by a Team USA mental health provider. During follow-up, mental health providers recorded follow-up outcomes using one of nine predefined outcomes. Outcomes were analysed for athletes with a single positive screen and for all unique positive screen combinations.Results 450 (53.1%) athletes had a positive screen. The most common outcomes were: ‘discussion without further action’ (31.8%), ‘athlete already connected to outside services’ (26.0%) and ‘inability to contact the athlete’ (20.4%). However, 43.1% of follow-ups required a service to be provided to the athlete.Conclusion While many positive screens did not require new clinical interventions, the proportion of athletes receiving follow-up care (43.1%) or were already in care (26.0%), underscores the need for diverse psychological resources to support elite athlete mental health. The inability to reach 20.4% of athletes following a positive screen suggests that alternative approaches for the deployment of the SMHAT-1 may be needed to allow for immediate clinician follow-up care. These findings support ongoing SMHAT-1 use and highlight the need for sufficient psychological services resources to meet athletes’ follow-up needs. |
| Document Type: |
article |
| File Description: |
electronic resource |
| Language: |
English |
| ISSN: |
2055-7647 |
| Relation: |
https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/11/4/e002758.full; https://doaj.org/toc/2055-7647 |
| DOI: |
10.1136/bmjsem-2025-002758 |
| Access URL: |
https://doaj.org/article/93bbbe3a256b4e1e83fa80f57a3f90ab |
| Accession Number: |
edsdoj.93bbbe3a256b4e1e83fa80f57a3f90ab |
| Database: |
Directory of Open Access Journals |