Psychological Assessment and Intervention at the Boston Marathon: A Model for Event-Based Mental Health Support

Background: The Boston Marathon stands as a highly regarded event in the running world, renowned not only for its prestige and challenging course but also for its pioneering implementation of a dedicated psychology team to support runners. The ۲۰۱۳ Boston Marathon bombings underscored the essential role that mental health support plays at this event, serving as a catalyst for the development and expansion of an innovative care model. Despite growing recognition of psychological needs in endurance events, standardized approaches to psychological assessment and intervention at mass participation sporting events remain limited, with most marathons lacking formal mental health support structures. Methods: This review critically evaluates the psychological care model provided to runners on race day as part of the Boston Marathon medical team. The standard of care, operational framework, and intervention protocols are systematically analyzed. Evidence from program evaluation data, clinical reports, and best practice guidelines is synthesized to assess effectiveness and identify transferable components applicable to other endurance events. Results: The Boston Marathon's psychological care model demonstrates that integrating mental health professionals within the event medical team enhances runner support and safety. Key components include pre-race psychological preparation resources, on-course crisis intervention capabilities, post-race emotional support, and referral pathways for ongoing care. The model addresses diverse needs ranging from performance anxiety and race-related distress to acute psychological responses following traumatic events. Evaluation data indicate high runner satisfaction and effective identification of at-risk individuals requiring intervention. The model's success has influenced the increasing trend of providing psychological care in marathon and other athletic settings. Conclusion: The Boston Marathon psychology team provides a valuable framework for standardizing psychological assessment and intervention procedures for both elite and novice runners at mass participation events. Lessons learned from this model offer guidance for other marathons seeking to implement similar services. Future developments should focus on evidence-based protocols, outcome measurement, and scalability across different event contexts.

کلیدواژه ها:

Boston Marathon ، Psychological assessment ، Psychological intervention ، Endurance events ، Mental health ، Athlete support