Answer

Mental Health

The mental health of individuals plays a primary role in influencing their health outcomes and quality of life. Mental health can be defined as the absence of mental illness or level of psychological wellbeing. It is composed of three elements including the emotional, social, and psychological wellbeing (Thoits, 2013). This paper compares and contrasts three articles that discuss the mental health of athletes.

Similarities

All the three articles talk about the mental wellbeing of different athletes. In this case, the first article evaluates the mental health of Michael Phelps, a renowned world swimming champion who has been struggling with mental health issues and substance abuse for quite some time. It also mentions a number of other celebrities including Hayden Panettiere and Wentworth Miller who have been battling with depression (Couch, 2016). The second article also highlights the mental health issues of a famous soccer athlete, Landon Donovan, who has been struggling with depression which has impacted negatively on his career (Baxter, 2014). Lastly, the third article, analyses the career events of Royce White, a prominent basket baller who was diagnosed with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive behavior (Pilon, 2017).

Differences

The first article focuses on the mental health issues of Michael Phelps but mentions other celebrities who are struggling with the same such as Hayden Panettiere and Wentworth Miller (Couch, 2016). On the other hand, the second and third articles concentrate on the key characters including Landon Donovan and Royce White respectively and do not include other celebrities. Similarly, the mental health issues in the three articles are different. For instance, in the first article, Michael Phelps is said to suffer from low-self-esteem and substance abuse, whereas, the athletes in the second and last article suffer from depression and anxiety and obsessive-compulsive behavior respectively.

 In conclusion, the mental health of patients, particularly, athletes is vital because it impacts their performance and productivity in the long run. Individuals should, therefore, ensure their mental wellbeing and seek help whenever necessary to enhance their health outcomes and quality of life.