Skip to main content

Table 3 Descriptive information for the ten included studies

From: A systematic review of interventions to increase awareness of mental health and well-being in athletes, coaches and officials

Authors (year of study)

Study design; duration

Sample characteristics

Mental health descriptor; mode of delivery

Bapat, Jorm, and Lawerence [67]

Pre-post design; 3 weeks

Sport club leaders (n = 40; age = 38.62; 16 males, 24 females)

Mental health literacy through mental health first aid training; 8 h training program delivered over 3 sessions using a range of presentations, tasks and homework.

Breslin, Haughey, Donnelly, Kearney, and Prentice [37]

Controlled trial; 1 day (3 h session)

Sport coaches (n = 244; 126 males, 118 females)

Mental health awareness program involving videos and discussions with athletes who have experienced depression; 3 h program delivered in one session by a public health agency provider

Donohue et al. [68]

Single subject pre-post and follow up design; 4 months

Athletes with previous history of substance abuse or dependence (n = 7; age = 20; 4 males, 3 females)

Modifying behavioural and cognitive skills to overcome substance abuse; 12 individual meetings on a range of topics

Gulliver et al. [69]

Randomised control trial; 5 weeks

Elite athletes (n = 59; age = 25.5; 16 males, 43 females)

Mental health literacy; participants were allocated to one of a series of online psycho-educational programs

Pierce, Liaw, Dobell and Anderson [71]

Pre-post design (club leaders); controlled trial (football players); 3 weeks

Club leaders (n = 36; age = 45); and football players (n = 275; age = 21)

Mental health literacy; 12 h psycho-educational group sessions for leaders; information sessions were conducted with players alongside informal information

Longshore and Sachs [70]

Controlled trial; 6 weeks

College coaches (n = 20; age = 34.5; 8 males, 12 females)

Mindfulness training program to develop emotional awareness and reduce stress; an initial 1.5 h group session followed by a 6 week home program

Sebbens, Hassmen, Crisp and Wensley [29]

Controlled trial; 1 day (4 h)

Coaches, trainers, support staff and service provides (n = 166; age = 37.8; 83 males, 83 females)

Mental health knowledge and confidence program; 4 h applied workshop involving case studies, role-playing and videos

Slack, Maynard, Butt and Olusiga [72]

Single subject pre-post design; 1 season (approximately 6 months)

Referees (n = 3; age = 28.67; 3 males)

Mental toughness education and training program; six monthly workshops involving four individual-based and two group-based sessions consisting of role-playing and cognitive behavioural therapy techniques

Tester, Watkins and Rouse [73]

Pre-post design; 2 school years

‘At risk’ schoolchildren enrolled in a sports program (n = 991)

Preparation for life skills (i.e. pro social behaviours, stress management) were taught by sporting mentors through a basketball program in and outside classroom settings over the course of 2 years

Van Raalte, Cornelius, Andrews, Diehl and Brewer [74]

Randomised controlled trial; 1 day (online session lasted at least 10 min)

Student athletes (n = 153; age = 19.63; 46 males, 103 females)

Mental health literacy; web-based program using exercises and interactive material