Mental Health Literacy in Football: What Do Maltese Coaches Really Know?
- Darren Bezzina
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
When a player is injured, most coaches know what to do.But what if the injury isn’t physical?
This Maltese study interviewed 12 football coaches from local clubs to explore one powerful question:
How confident are coaches in recognising and responding to mental health issues in their players?
Key Findings
Low Mental Health Literacy - Coaches could spot common terms like “anxiety” or “depression” — but many confused mental health with performance psychology (e.g. confidence, motivation, focus). There was a gap between awareness and clinical understanding.
Coaches Feel Underprepared - None of the coaches received formal mental health training, and most admitted they wouldn’t know how to respond if a player opened up to them.
Fear of Saying the Wrong Thing - Coaches wanted to support players but feared making things worse, offering the wrong advice, or crossing personal boundaries.
Systemic Barriers - Clubs don’t offer mental health resources. No national standard exists for educating coaches on psychological wellbeing. Mental health remains taboo in many local environments.
Willingness to Learn - Despite these challenges, all coaches expressed a desire for training, open discussion, and better tools — especially as they recognised mental health struggles growing among youth athletes.
Why This Research Matters
Maltese football needs to evolve.This study makes it clear: coaches are ready — but the system is not.
If we want healthy players, we need to invest in coach education.
If we want to reduce stigma, we need leadership from clubs and governing bodies.
If we want sport to be safe, we must treat mental health like physical health — equally, openly, and urgently.
Full Citation:Muscat, A., Duca, O., & Stivala, A. (2024). Mental health literacy: experiences and attitudes of football coaches in Malta. European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science, 11(2), 1–20.
Let’s help coaches feel equipped — not overwhelmed. Mental health support in sport isn’t optional anymore. It’s essential.