Artemis Spanou, a 31-year-old basketball player for the Greek Women’s National Team and current member of France’s Tango Bourges Basket Club, brings a unique perspective as both a seasoned professional athlete and a mental health advocate. Reflecting on her decade-long career that began at Robert Morris University, she has experienced a whirlwind of cultures and playing styles across Turkey, Spain, Poland, Hungary, France, and Greece. Now, as the captain of Greece’s national team, Artemis not only leads on the court but also champions a critical evolution in athlete support—integrating mental health services, including sport psychology, into athletes’ lives.

Artemis recalls the challenges and rewards of competing in different countries, where shifts in federation policies and evolving generational attitudes have shaped her journey. Over the last two and a half years, she has sought out and worked with a sport psychologist through the Greek Basketball Federation, a development she feels has positively impacted both herself and the national team system. She also highlighted the benefits of having sport psychologists work closely with teams, fostering cohesion, open communication, and trust among players and coaches.

Exposure to various sport psychology practices in different countries has given Artemis valuable insights into how athletes approach their own mental well-being. While she had long considered consulting a sport psychologist, it wasn’t until the pressures intensified that she actively sought help. Now, she emphasizes the importance of early intervention and hopes to normalize mental health support for younger players who face different pressures than she did at their age.

Discussing her experience with mental health support as an international athlete, Artemis mentioned several unique challenges. “It’s not just about basketball; it’s about life and learning how to live,” she explains. Working with foreign practitioners and coaches sometimes presents linguistic and cultural barriers, which can complicate the athlete-practitioner relationship. She notes that finding a sport psychologist who speaks the same language or understands cultural nuances can be invaluable, as language differences may lead to misunderstandings or a loss of context.

Additionally, she finds it beneficial to work with a psychologist who attends games, rather than only consulting once a week. This provides valuable insight into an athlete’s daily behaviors, body language, and performance dynamics. “Seeing the whole picture helps more,” she says. Based on her experience, Artemis believes Europe is becoming more attuned to the benefits of sport psychology, though she feels there is still progress to be made to reach the level of integration seen in some other countries. She advocates for ongoing support within teams, ideally with psychologists embedded in the sports environment rather than relying on irregular or limited visits.

Artemis stressed the importance of creating a “safe place” for athletes to share openly. For many, especially those competing abroad, the stresses of performing, living independently, and managing personal pressures are significant. To foster trust, she suggests that practitioners connect with athletes beyond scheduled sessions and relate to their cultural experiences. In her view, trust is not built in a vacuum; it requires authentic engagement with the athlete’s life both inside and outside the sport environment, which is why integration is so important.

For Artemis, the bond with a practitioner who understands her detailed, analytical approach has been essential. However, she recognizes that every athlete has unique needs, and practitioners must be adaptable, especially when working with athletes from diverse backgrounds. She hopes that, as awareness grows across Europe, the integration of mental health resources will become standard for youth teams as well, equipping young athletes with tools to manage the heightened pressures they face. Through her work as a team captain and an advocate, Artemis is a powerful voice for mental health awareness and support across international sport. Her journey illustrates the impact of embracing mental well-being as an integral part of athletic performance, paving the way for a more resilient and balanced future for athletes worldwide.