With various international competitions on the horizon for Team Kenya this year, the National Olympic Committee of Kenya reckon that sportspersons will need coping strategies to manage the pressure expected.
Deputy president Shadrack Maluki said mental health services for sportspersons are required sooner rather than later, citing the case of last year's Tokyo Olympics.
"This actually is a bit late and should have come much earlier. Our NOCK Vice chairman, Waithaka Kioni was in-charge of Tokyo Team Kenya as the Chef De Mission and can attest to the importance of a healthy mind alongside a strong physique," Maluki said.
He acknowledged that all athletes will need mental fortitude to deal with the challenges of competing on the global stage.
"The pressure to perform will be big this year with Commonwealth Games and Africa Youth Games around the corner,” he said.
Maluki was speaking on Monday — on behalf of the committee president Paul Tergat — at NOC-K's offices during the signing of a service agreement with Chiromo Hospital Group.
Under the collaborative agreement, dubbed Tufunguke Wanaspoti, Kenyan sportspersons will be empowered on how to identify and cope with mental health issues.
They will also be able to employ digital technologies to undertake mental health self-assessments.
Speaking at the same event, NOC-K secretary general Francis Mutuku said the agreement is the first step in boosting sportspersons' mental health to enable them to perform well.
“This is a very defining moment for us at the NOCK because we are marking another milestone in our partnership development with strategic stakeholders that add value to our athletes and assist them to perform optimally in their specialties,” Mutuku said.
The hospital's CEO, Vincent Hongo, concurred with Mutuku.
"Having stayed with athletes in Rift Valley, I know this partnership will help our athletes represent our nation better. We have protective mechanisms before curative mechanisms," Hongo said.
