The leveling of the playing field between physical and mental health in the sports world may be underway in earnest, with an increasing number of high-profile athletes making their mental wellbeing a top priority and doing so in a very public way. In this discussion, we explore the unique pressures and expectations carried by elite competitors and the efforts of mental health providers to merge mind with body treatments for whole-person health. We also take a look in the mirror as fans to examine what drives the intensity of our adoration and criticism of our chosen athletes and teams. Our experts are from the Stanford Sports Psychiatry and Sports Psychology Program, the nation's first comprehensive mental wellbeing clinic for athletes, serving professional and Olympic athletes from around the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as Stanford's NCAA Division 1 student-athletes.From the psychiatry side of the clinic, we welcome co-founder Dr. Douglas Noordsy, Stanford Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Dr. Francesco Dandekar, Stanford Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and the Associate Director of the Stanford Sports Psychiatry and Sports Psychology Program.As Dr. Noordsy explains, "The (athletic) performance enhancement work is mostly the domain of the psychology part of the program, while psychiatry is more to maintain mental health." Offering expertise in both in a centralized place makes perfect sense to Dr. Dandekar, "all of our services occupy space on the same spectrum of wellbeing." The psychology work is led by Clinic Director Dr. Lisa Post and Dr. Kelli Moran-Miller.In all, more than ten clinicians make up what Dr. Noordsy calls a "brain trust" of care. With backgrounds in athletics, they understand the unique aspects of competing at a high level while juggling other intensive activities like academics and critical life junctures.Balancing athletic performance with the rest of life's demands is among the top challenges elite athletes face, given the time and dedication needed to excel in competitive sports. While some can be motivated by and even thrive on such pressure, anxiety and depression are also not uncommon. Nor is the fear of career-ending injury or the insecurity that can set in during a long and arduous rehabilitation. Intense scrutiny of one's physical form can lend itself to body dysmorphia and eating disorders. And, just the sheer intensity of public attention – good and bad – might be an understandably disorienting experience.Through this lens, it's easy to see the importance of whole-person wellness for competitive athletes and, given the difficulty of navigating life in general, for us all.Follow this link for the Stanford Sports Psychiatry and Sports Psychology Program, its team of experts and the full array of services: med.stanford.edu/psychiatry/patie…care/sports.htmlTo learn more about Dr. Douglas Noordsy and his work: med.stanford.edu/profiles/douglas-noordsyFor more on Dr. Francesco Dandekar and the focus of his work: med.stanford.edu/profiles/francesco-dandekar

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