Barriers and Enablers to Implementing Community Sports-Based Mental Health Promotion Initiatives: A Qualitative Study

Issue Addressed

Effective mental health promotion strategies that engage a variety of health and non-health sectors are an important component of the mental health intervention spectrum. Community sport is one such avenue for promoting mental health and potentially reducing stigma around help seeking. This study aimed to identify priority actions of community sports-based mental health promotion initiatives and report on factors facilitating and inhibiting successful implementation of these initiatives.

Methods

Thirty-one project managers from 24 sports clubs and organisations funded to deliver mental health promotion initiatives across New South Wales, Australia, participated in the independent evaluation. Data were collected using a brief survey and a semi-structured interview, and were analysed using descriptive and thematic analysis.

Results

Building wellness and resilience was the most common priority action area of the funded initiatives. Key enablers of implementation identified by project managers included the contribution of key personnel, partnerships, buy-in from the organisation, sport clubs as a mental health promotion setting, and grant funding. The most frequently reported barrier to implementation was the limited timeframe available. Other inhibiting factors included lack of human resources (particularly volunteers) and stigma surrounding mental health issues.

Conclusions

Sports clubs and organisations faced several barriers to the implementation of their mental health promotion initiatives. However, a range of factors enabled successful implementation. Findings of this study can inform the development of resources, programmes and policies to promote mental health in this setting.

So What?

When planning and implementing sports-based mental health promotion initiatives, it is essential to ensure the presence of enabling factors such as recruitment of the right key personnel, establishment of strong partnerships, and securing organisational buy-in. Concurrently, strategies should be employed to mitigate barriers including timing and timeframes, limited human resources, and existing stigma, to maximise the likelihood of success and achievement of positive outcomes.