Prevalence of mental health symptoms in a cohort of Polish Paralympic athletes: Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool 1 (SMHAT-1) in combination with clinical intake interviews.

Objective Empirical research regarding the prevalence of mental health symptoms in Paralympic athletes is scarce. This is the first study to use the IOC Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool 1 (SMHAT-1) as a basis for a subsequent in-person brief clinical intake interview to evaluate the prevalence of mental health concerns in a cohort of Polish Paralympic athletes. Methods We administered SMHAT-1 forms one and two in-person, during the routine biannual medical check-ups for Paralympic athletes at the National Centre for Sports Medicine in Poland. Subsequently, all Para athletes were interviewed by qualified sport psychologists who further evaluated the athletes’ mental health and provided recommendations. Results A total of 137 Paralympic athletes (87 males, 50 females), participated three to eight months before the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games; 61% scored above the triage threshold for psychological distress. Female athletes scored higher in depressive symptoms. No other significant gender differences were noted. Based on the subsequent mental health evaluation, 75.2% of Paralympic athletes were assessed as having sound mental health and required no mental health action, 18.3% were advised psychoeducation or sport psychologist consultation, while 7.3% were referred to a mental health specialist – a psychotherapist and/or a psychiatrist. Conclusion The prevalence of mental health symptoms was slightly lower in Polish Paralympic athletes, compared to Polish Olympic athletes. SMHAT-1 proved a useful screening basis for the subsequent brief clinical interviews, substantially elevated the efficacy of mental health evaluation, and aided in raising mental health literacy in Paralympic athletes.