Utilising sport for mental health and social change in India

Article for Mental Health Day - 10th October 2024.docx

Sport has the power to transform lives and offers significant potential to address India’s escalating mental health crisis. In India, over 150 million people live with mental illnesses (Pallab K. Maulik et al, 2024), and suicide is the leading cause of death among those aged 15-29 (India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative Suicide Collaborators, 2018). The economic impact is equally staggering, with the World Health Organization estimating that mental health conditions could cost India USD 1.03 trillion between 2012 and 2030. Addressing mental health is therefore not just a social but an economic imperative.

Sport can be a crucial part of the solution by promoting mental wellbeing, fostering community cohesion, and developing essential life skills. Engaging in sport provides an outlet for physical activity, a known contributor to mental health, while also creating inclusive spaces that support emotional resilience and social connection. As we celebrate World Mental Health Day (10th October), it is essential to explore how sport can be harnessed to improve mental health and drive meaningful social change.

The mental health crisis in India

India faces a severe mental health crisis, with over 150 million people affected. Suicide remains the leading cause of death among young people aged 15-29, and the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the situation, increasing rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.

Despite these alarming statistics, mental health remains stigmatized, with limited access to care, particularly in rural areas.

Sport and mental health

Physical activity and sport have long been recognized as effective tools for promoting mental health. Regular participation not only improves physical fitness but also significantly impacts mental wellbeing by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Moreover, sport fosters a sense of belonging, making it a powerful tool for addressing the mental health challenges faced by individuals, especially young people.

Integrating mental health awareness into sport-based programs offers a potential solution. With this context, one can see how sport for development (S4D) programs work to create inclusive and supportive environments where participants can build emotional resilience, develop coping strategies, and foster mental wellbeing – setting a perfect platform to address the growing concern regarding mental health in India.

Addressing mental health through sport in S4D programs in India

S4D is a growing field within the global development and sports sectors, highlighting the value of sport, physical activity, and play in creating social impact. Organizations worldwide, including those in India, are incorporating mental health components into their programs. These organizations understand that mental wellbeing is a foundation for developing life skills and social growth, going beyond competition to address critical issues such as stress, anxiety, and social isolation among young people.

Since 2015, Pro Sport Development (PSD) has been running its flagship Community Sports Program (CSP) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The CSP works with young people aged 5-16 from marginalized slum communities to improve physical fitness, build life skills, and provide a supportive environment that addresses social-emotional challenges. The program empowers participants to become confident, competent, and gender-sensitive leaders, improving both their health and mental wellbeing.

An inspiring example is Ankit Basantara, a CSP participant who transformed from an under-confident young person into an active, vocal and gender-sensitive leader through sport.

He is so much more active now and there is a new freshness of mind with which he wakes up every day, focused on bettering himself. He is always raring to go and would happily stay out for 24 hours to play. He has also become more conscious of his diet and what he eats and drinks in a day.

- Mother of Ankit Basantara, a participant of the CSP

Similarly, Sailekha Behra’s journey reflects the profound impact of the CSP; she overcame societal restrictions to become a confident and health-conscious leader, embodying the positive changes, in the form of physical and mental wellbeing, brought about by sport.

Sangath’s MeWeSports Program

In India, Sangath’s MeWeSports program is another example of how sport can promote mental health. Beginning in 2020 in Goa, India, this initiative focuses on addressing the mental health and social needs of young people by encouraging physical activity and developing life skills. By cultivating a sense of belonging and community, the program provides opportunities for healthy living, organized and focused activities, and social interaction, supported by peers, coaches, and families. The program uses non-traditional settings like community sports clubs to harness the benefits of sport, promoting mental health and strengthening existing youth-friendly community resources. This approach also plays a key role in preventing substance abuse and other mental health challenges.

It was very amazing. I got to learn a lot of ways to manage my stress. I used them in my exams and daily life which has helped me improve my scores in exams and my ability to deal with stress.

- MeWeSports participant, 7th grade student

Building a holistic approach and response to mental health challenges through sport

To effectively address mental health challenges, sport-based programs must prioritise building safe spaces, raising mental health awareness, and collaborating with mental health practitioners. By embedding mental health components into sports programs, organisations can actively contribute to participants' wellbeing, rather than treating it as a passive outcome. Sessions on managing stress, anxiety, and emotional wellbeing can be incorporated into the broader framework of life skills and personal development.

As World Mental Health Day reminds us, addressing mental health is a societal responsibility. Sport, with its universal appeal, offers a unique opportunity to tackle the mental health crisis, particularly among young people. Programs like Sangath’s MeWeSports and PSD’s Community Sports Program show that integrating mental health into sport can have a transformative impact, promoting not just physical fitness but also emotional and mental wellbeing.

Recognizing the power of sport to improve mental health, it is essential to highlight and invest in initiatives that harness this potential. By doing so, we can work towards a future where mental wellbeing is prioritized, and sport becomes a tool for both personal and social development.