This conversation is with Sport Psychiatrist Dr. Carla Edwards. Her practice focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness and psychological struggles in athletes. Dr. Carla completed her medical degree in Newfoundland and her psychiatry residency at McMaster University in Ontario. She has worked with a wide range of elite athletes and Olympians and is President of the International Society for Sport Psychiatry and on the board of directors for the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine.
And, not surprising, Dr. Edwards is an exceptional athlete herself. Throughout her years of education, she competed in numerous sports, but truly excelled in volleyball and was inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Sport Hall of Fame in 2015.
We discuss:
- Opportunities and lessons learned through sport
- Sport psychiatry vs sport psychology
- Common mental health concerns in athletes
- Sport specific factors that influence mood
- Post-Olympic depression
- Approach to eating disorders
- Psychotherapy as first line treatment
- Special considerations for psychiatric medications
- Stigma around mental health in athletes
Connect:
- X: @Edwards10Carla
- Instagram: @carlaedwards107
- LinkedIn: Dr. Carla Edwards
Resources:
- Synergy Sport & Mental Health: http://www.synergysportmentalhealth.ca/
- International Society for Sports Psychiatry: https://www.sportspsychiatry.org/
- Article: Mental health considerations for athlete removal and return to play
- Article: Intersection of mental health issues and RED-S
- Article: Sports psychiatry clinical curriculum
Audio editing and processing by Wyatt Pavlik
Theme music by Ievgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay
*Please appreciate that any information discussed is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the opinion of a physician or qualified healthcare provider.*
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