What is the IOC SMHAT2

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool 2 (SMHAT-2) is a standardised assessment tool aiming to identify, at an early stage, elite athletes (defined as professional, Olympic, Paralympic and collegiate level; 16 and older) potentially at risk for, or already experiencing, mental health symptoms and disorders, in order to facilitate timely referral of those in need of adequate support and/or treatment.

Developed by the IOC Mental Health Working Group (MHWG), the IOC SMHAT2 relies on a three-step approach including universal screening as Step 1 presented in the Athlete form 1 (10 minutes to complete), conditional screening as Step 2 presented in the Athlete form 2 (5 minutes to complete), and an aid to clinical assessment as Step 3 presented in the Medical form (30-45 minutes to complete).

Who should use the IOC SMHAT2

The IOC SMHAT2 can be used by sports medicine physicians and other licensed/ registered health professionals, but the clinical assessment (and related management) within the IOC SMHAT2 (see Step 3) should be conducted by sports medicine physicians and/or licensed/registered mental health professionals.

If you are not a sports medicine physician or other licensed/registered health professional, please use the IOC Sport Mental Health Recognition Tool.

Why use the IOC SMHAT2

Mental health symptoms and disorders are prevalent among active and former elite athletes. Mental health disorders are syndromes characterised by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation or behaviour that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological and/or developmental processes that underpin mental and behavioural functioning. These disturbances are associated with distress or impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning.

Mental health symptoms are any self-reported adverse thought, feeling, behaviour and/or psychosomatic symptom that might lead to subjective distress or functional impairments in daily life, work and/or sport.

When to use the IOC SMHAT2

The IOC SMHAT2 should be embedded within the pre-season period (i.e., ideally a few weeks after the start of sport training but before the competition period).

The IOC SMHAT2 can also be used mid- and end-season or when any significant event for athletes occurs such as injury, illness, surgery, any significant performance concern, after a major competition, end of competitive cycle, suspected harassment/abuse, adverse life event, deselection and/or transitioning out of sport.

The IOC SMHAT2 and its related screening instruments should be used with strict attention to confidentiality and data security to ensure privacy, trust and psychological safety (e.g., that the results will not be shared without the participant’s consent and not used for selection processes).

Medical Screening Form

Athlete Forms

IOC SMHAT2 calculator tool

In order to assist with the scoring of Step 1 (universal screening) and Step 2 (conditional screening) of the IOC SMHAT2, you can use the IOC SMHAT2 calculator tool. Use the Excel calculator tool alongside SMHAT-2 to support the calculation and interpretation of assessment scores.

In this Excel file, two input sheets for the athlete are visible, while two calculation sheets and one medical form sheet for the sports medicine physician or licensed/registered mental health professional are hidden.

The first input sheet is related to universal screening (Step 1; Athlete form 1) while the second input sheet is related to conditional screening (Step 2; Athlete form 2). Both input sheets can be completed by the athlete (Athlete form 2 only if applicable).

More information can be found: https://www.olympics.com/athlete365/articles/mental-health/sport-mental-health-assessment-tool-1