The Counter Strike Professional Players Association (CSPPA) and We.Care, a Danish online mental health services company, have announced the launch of a new program to provide psychological support for cyber athletes. All players who are members of the CSPPA will be able to contact and confidentially consult with a clinical psychologist at any time. Among the professionals providing these services will be psychologists with experience working with professional athletes and with gamers.
CSPPA officials note that the number of players experiencing symptoms of stress and burnout has increased recently. To combat this trend, a pilot project was launched some time ago with Team North, and now psychological help will be available to all players.
Martin «STYKO» Stick, FunPlus Phoenix player and CSPPA board member, notes that CS: GO players are particularly susceptible to psychological problems due to the stress and busy schedule of competition and training. Therefore, it will be highly beneficial for them to have a psychological support program that can be availed online and at their convenience.
A study conducted by the University of Chichester in 2019 found that professional cyber athletes who compete in CS: GO are exposed to several dozen stressors. In this sense, they are not much different from elite athletes in traditional disciplines and they too need some mental preparation.