"We're using sport to develop social and emotional skills"
Around one in seven young people is estimated to face mental health challenges, and sport can play a role in addressing this—provided it’s used deliberately. “It only helps if key social and emotional skills are actively taught during physical activity,” says Jolan Kegelaers, professor of health psychology and postdoctoral researcher at the VUB. His work explores how schools can boost pupils’ mental wellbeing through a carefully designed sports programme. “Just adding a few extra PE lessons won’t cut it,” he adds.
That sport benefits young people sounds obvious — and the list of advantages is a long one. “Physical activity improves fitness and strengthens the immune system. It can help you manage stress better and improve your sleep,” says Jolan Kegelaers, professor of health psychology and postdoctoral researcher at the VUB. There are also clear psychological gains. “Sport often involves working towards specific goals. When young people manage to achieve them, it gives a sense of accomplishment and boosts self-confidence.”
“Sport is healthy, but research shows that its effects on symptoms of depression and anxiety are relatively modest"
But sport inevitably comes with its share of less pleasant experiences. “Losing, injuries, setbacks — it’s all part of it. These challenges teach young people how to deal with disappointment and help build resilience.”
Sport is also a highly social activity. “It’s a space where friendships are formed and where young people can develop prosocial skills — fair play, offering support, being a good friend… All of these are important life skills that positively influence mental wellbeing and can be strengthened through sport.”
Sport is healthy… but not always
Despite all the benefits, a realistic and critical perspective is essential, says Jolan Kegelaers. “The media and policymakers sometimes overstate the positive impact of sport. Yes, sport is healthy, but research shows that its effects on symptoms of depression and anxiety are relatively modest.”
In fact, sport can also have a negative impact on mental health. “Think of sporting environments where discrimination or exclusion occurs, or where there’s intense pressure to perform. Sport can help relieve stress, but it can also add to it. The key question is: do young people have the necessary skills to cope with that stress? And does their environment support them in managing it — or does it pile on even more pressure? These factors make a real difference.”
“With our Smarts project, we hope to strengthen young people’s wellbeing by bringing sport into schools”
Not all sports have the same impact, either. “The limited research available on this topic suggests that mental health issues are more common among individual athletes than team players. One reason could be that individual athletes rely more heavily on themselves. A strong social network is crucial for wellbeing, after all. Or perhaps solo athletes experience more pressure because their performance depends entirely on them, whereas team players tend to share the responsibility. More research is needed. But what’s clear is that sport must be used thoughtfully if it’s to have a meaningful impact on mental wellbeing.”
Schools as the playing field
The demand — and the need — to support young people’s mental wellbeing is growing rapidly. “We’re seeing a steady rise in symptoms of depression and anxiety, and we’re deeply concerned about the increase in self-harming behaviour,” says psychologist Jolan Kegelaers. “Schools, too, are urgently looking for extra tools to help.” Through the Smarts project, the aim is to promote young people’s wellbeing by bringing sport directly into schools — in an accessible way, and without additional financial costs. “Young people who don’t have access to sports outside school can still benefit from a structured programme through this initiative.” Smarts, short for Stimuleren van mentale gezondheid en veerkracht via scholen (Promoting Mental Health and Resilience through Schools), is a scientific project based at the VUB.
But the Smarts project goes beyond simply getting pupils to play sport. “Just adding a few extra PE lessons won’t make a difference. We use sport as a tool to develop social and emotional skills — skills that young people can carry with them into their lives outside of sport,” explains Jolan Kegelaers. “Sport is full of emotion. How do you recognise those emotions in yourself? What happens when things don’t go your way, or your opponent scores a goal? How do you read your teammate’s emotions? What can you do to support them?”
After each sports activity, low-threshold reflection sessions are organised, encouraging young people to talk about mental health in an open and informal setting. “We deliberately avoid holding these sessions in the classroom. Young people who already feel disengaged from school, who experience more stigma around mental health, or who are simply tired of formal lessons, tend to switch off when mental wellbeing is treated as just another subject. Sport, on the other hand, gives us a way to genuinely reach them.”
Smarts project to launch in Brussels
The Smarts project is currently in its preparation phase. “Next school year, the project will launch in four GO! schools in Brussels,” says Jolan Kegelaers — a deliberate choice. “In major cities, the rise in mental health issues among young people is particularly stark. We also see more barriers to accessing traditional mental health support, such as language differences, stigma, or financial constraints. That makes prevention all the more vital in these areas.”
The project will focus primarily on young people aged thirteen to fifteen. “Research shows that most mental health problems begin to emerge during early adolescence,” Kegelaers explains.
If we want to focus on prevention, we need to pay particular attention to this age group. “We want to understand what matters to them, what excites them, and we place a strong emphasis on co-creation,” says Kegelaers. Early conversations with focus groups, for instance, revealed that combat sports are especially popular among young people in Brussels. “So it wouldn’t make much sense for our programme to focus on basketball. We’re constantly refining the project to ensure it aligns with the reality of their everyday lives.”
Teachers are also closely involved in the research. “The idea is that, once the project ends, they’ll be able to carry it forward independently — continuing to prioritise their pupils’ wellbeing in the long term.”
