FGV examines athletes’ mental health

For its 23rd Seminar on Sports Management, the Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) addressed the issue of athletes’ mental health, which has become a key topic in the world of sport in recent years.

The issue of athletes’ mental health can no longer be ignored by those in charge of the modern sporting world. From professional sport to amateur participation, a large number of athletes are now faced with situations that can lead to a lack of self-confidence, anxiety, depression, or even suicidal thoughts. It is essential, therefore, to be able to detect this distress and provide appropriate support to athletes when required.

The seminar, which was held by invitation only for participants, attracted around a hundred people, including students and alumni of the FGV/FIFA/CIES International Programme who had received their diplomas the previous day, as well as guests representing various public and sporting organisations.

Following a musical interlude featuring the extraordinary Camerata Jovem do Rio de Janeiro, the speakers addressed various aspects of mental health, and particularly those relating to the challenges athletes may face during their careers and beyond. They also discussed initiatives aimed at promoting sport as a source of support for those who have experienced trauma, or as a means of personal fulfilment within a dynamic and inspiring environment.

Speakers included:

• Pamela Zaballa, CEO of the ‘No More’ association, whose mission is to end domestic and sexual violence.
• Finlay Batts, coordinator of the United Nations Office for the initiative on youth mental health and well-being.
• Jane Randel, Senior Advisor to the National Football League (NFL).
• Ricardo Trade, CIES Local Coordinator in Brazil.
• Marina Penteado Gusson, President of the Brazilian Association of Sport Psychology.
• Gilberto Silva, winner of the 2002 FIFA World Cup and co-founder of the Striver app, which brings fans, players and clubs together in a positive community, free from all forms of abuse.
• Fabio Figueiras,  FIFA Master Alumni and representative of the MindFit VR project (promoting mental wellbeing, emotional resilience and inclusion in sport through innovative virtual reality tools).
• Mauro Silva, former student of the FGV/FIFA/CIES International Programme and winner of the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
• Luciano Portela, former student of the FGV/FIFA/CIES International Programme and deputy head of the Olympic Training Centre and CDA’s High-Performance Sports Division
• Andrea Deslandes, PhD in Mental Health from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
• Sidarta Ribeiro, neuroscientist and founder of the Brain Institute at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte.
• Mizael Conrado, Secretary General of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee.
• Milena Titoneli, former student of the FGV/FIFA/CIES International Programme and silver medallist at the 2025 Wuxi World Taekwondo Championships.

Organised annually by FGV as part of the FIFA/CIES International Sports Management Programme, this seminar has established itself over the years as a benchmark thanks to the relevance of the topics covered, the expertise  of the speakers and the clear interest shown by participants.

We would like to extend our warmest thanks to the FGV and the FMA community for their commitment to organising and participating in these seminars, which provide an opportunity to listen, debate, exchange ideas and enhance the training of Brazilian sports managers.

In particular, a big thank you to Pedro Trengrouse, Luiz Ernesto Migliora Neto, Pablo Sergio de Souza Coelho, Beatriz Pereira, Millene Coutinho, Larissa Silva, Ruben Ielmini, Ricardo Trade and all the others who worked behind the scenes at the event.