The burden of sports: how and why athletes struggle with mental health

Introduction

Part I: Three underlying factors that jeopardize athletes' health and mental health: an overview

A single-minded pursuit of spectator sports rewards

The American legal system unreasonably and unfairly favors spectator sports organizations and enterprises

Sportswashing as part of an expanding spectator sports propaganda arsenal

Part II: Athletes' spectator sports mental health concerns

Mental conditions that athletes, like everyone else, may experience

Sports-related "yips," stress, anxiety, and depression

Evolving COVID risks: known, suspected, and unknown

CTE, other brain damage, and related erratic behaviors

Substance abuse and dependency

Part III: Mental health and emotional well-being challenges of marginalized athletes

Female athletes

LGB athletes and sports homophobia

Intersex and trans athletes: "not female enough"

Conclusion.