The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has released an updated consensus statement on mental health in elite athletes, calling for a more proactive, evidence-based approach to protecting athlete mental health and well-being. The 2026 statement builds on the IOC’s 2019 recommendations and recognizes that mental health exists on a continuum: athletes can experience stress, anxiety, burnout, or other concerns that significantly affect their well-being and performance even when they don’t meet the criteria for a mental health disorder. One of the biggest shifts? Routine screening and monitoring. The IOC recommends that mental health screening become part of routine athlete care at predefined points throughout an athlete’s career, as well as following significant events. The goal isn’t to label athletes or replace clinical care — it’s to identify concerns earlier, create opportunities for conversation and referral, and make mental health support a normal part of athlete health care. ...