The mental health and safety of sportspeople is everyone's business, whether you're a team-mate or a member of the technical staff. Simon Valverde, mental trainer and doctoral student at France's National Institute for Sport, Expertise and Performance (INSEP), reminds us of the right postures to adopt in the event of psychological distress. "We call it “ALEC” for Ask (ask if you notice something), Listen (actively listen to the person if they want to talk about it), Encourage (encourage them to seek help and help them find mental health professionals), Check (stay in touch and pay attention to how the situation is developing)" Faced with a situation of violence, the researcher recommends adopting the ‘PAROS’ posture: "Protect by putting distance measures in place, Affirm the violence observed if the victim minimises it, Respect the time limits for speaking out, Refer to a professional, Report the violence". The specialist points out that it is essential for each member of a team to"adopt a supportive and vigilant stance".
Brief
How should you react when faced with psychological distress or violence? Simon Valverde outlines the right postures to adopt