Mental health in the GAA: Why players are struggling

If you’re training hard, ticking every box in the gym and on the pitch, but still feeling flat, stressed, or close to burnout - it might not be physical.In this episode, I sit down with Aoibheann NicGhiolla Bhuí, who researched mental health in GAA players, to break down what’s really going on behind the scenes - and why so many players are struggling to keep up.We talk about:• Why GAA demands are becoming unsustainable for modern players • The concept of psychological flexibility and how it affects performance • Why over 50% of GAA players drop out between 16–24• The hidden pressure of balancing college, work, and GAA• Why male inter-county players are 3x more likely to repeat a college year than their peers• The role of team culture, self-talk, and social media in performanceWe also dive into what players and coaches are getting wrong when it comes to mental preparation - and what actually helps.Whether you’re trying to improve performance, stay consistent, or just enjoy the game again, this episode will give you a different perspective on what might be holding you back.📕 You can read Aoibheann's book hereStay ConnectedSubscribe to the Humans of Gaelic podcast wherever you're listening.⭐ Leave a Review: If you found value in this episode, please give it a rating and review - it helps me get more top guests.📢 Share the Episode: Know someone who’d benefit from this? Share it to help spread the word!Follow Along📍 Website: ⁠humansofgaelic.com⁠📸 Instagram: ⁠@humansofgaelic⁠📘 Facebook: ⁠Humans of Gaelic⁠🎥 TikTok: ⁠@humansofgaelic