Barriers and Enablers to Implementing Community Sports‐Based Mental Health Promotion Initiatives: A Qualitative Study

Sports clubs and organisations faced several barriers to the implementation of their mental health promotion initiatives. However, a range of factors enabled successful implementation. Findings of this study can inform the development of resources, programmes and policies to promote mental health in this setting. SO WHAT?: When planning and implementing sports-based mental health promotion initiatives, it is essential to ensure the presence of enabling factors such as recruitment of the right key personnel, establishment of strong partnerships, and securing organisational buy-in. Concurrently, strategies should be employed to mitigate barriers including timing and timeframes, limited human resources, and existing stigma, to maximise the likelihood of success and achievement of positive outcomes.