World Taekwondo's mental health survey is part of its sustainability strategy ©World Taekwondo

World Taekwondo has launched a survey aimed at assessing the sport's impact on the mental health of elite athletes worldwide.

The poll was announced to coincide with World Mental Health Day on October 10.

Creating and implementing a mental health policy is one of the objectives of World Taekwondo's sustainability strategy, which was launched in February.

Athletes aged 21 and over who have competed in at least one G-grade event over the last two years - such as the World Championships or a Grand Prix - have been targeted for the survey.

It is based on the International Olympic Committee's mental health assessment tool one, and re-designed by the World Taekwondo Sustainability Committee together with the Medical Committee.

Health and well-being are important goals for World Taekwondo ©World Taekwondo
Health and well-being are important goals for World Taekwondo ©World Taekwondo

The survey is seen as another "milestone" for World Taekwondo which announced its Hammamet Declaration in April 2018 as part of a bid to make the sport safer for athletes.

"Mental health is often overlooked and, sadly, there may be athletes who have suffered in silence," said World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue. 

"This mental health survey is a first step to understand our athletes better, and through it, I hope that we can develop pathways and tools to help them and make taekwondo a safer sport."