CHUNCHEON, Korea (Oct. 4, 2024) - Leading up to the World Mental Health Day on October 10th, World Taekwondo launched its first mental health awareness action aimed at more than 1,500 athletes and officials at the Chuncheon 2024 World Taekwondo Junior Championships taking place on October 1-6 in the Republic of Korea.
The action was in response to the World Taekwondo global mental health survey launched on October 10, 2023, which revealed the challenges that elite athletes were facing, including psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and disordered eating. In response to these findings, World Taekwondo has committed to addressing mental health concerns among its athletes and officials. The full report is accessible here.
At the Championships, World Taekwondo partnered with Mindaz, a centre that specialises in mental health analysis and sport counselling. Athletes and officials who participated underwent a stress assessment using the Omnifit Mindcare system, followed by a consultation with certified psychologists. The system analyses stress levels, cognitive performance, and brain function through advanced electroencephalogram (EEG) and photoplethysmogram (PPG) measurements. Based on these results, participants received personalised guidance from mental health professionals onsite on how to manage stress and improve their overall mental wellness.
“Health and well-being are one of the focus areas of the World Taekwondo Sustainability Strategy,” said World Taekwondo President, Dr. Chungwon Choue. “The launch of our mental health action, following our in-depth research, signifies the continuation of an important journey to safeguard the best interests of our athletes and officials.”
More than 200 athletes and officials participated in the 3-day action, with notably higher stress levels evident in athletes aged between 16 and 17, and coaches. Based on the data analysis, World Taekwondo will explore new ways to support all levels of the sport of Taekwondo.
Looking forward, World Taekwondo is committed to incorporating new mental health actions at future World Taekwondo-promoted events to support those in need and leave a legacy in regions where those events take place. World Taekwondo also encourages Member National Associations to pursue their own mental health programmes to support the well-being of their athletes and officials.
