Professional prizefighters are, by definition, among the bravest people on Earth. Simply doing their job carries a not inconsiderable risk of death or acute spinal injury from day one. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t be, like the rest of us, bundles of insecurity and mental health issues. Those issues can put a fighter at greater danger – for example, because of a fear of retiring and facing an unknown, anonymous future. And they can be harder to address because of the blows that fighters take to their heads, which can exacerbate existing mental health problems and increase new ones.

In this episode, Dr. Carlos Alarid, a psychologist with UC San Diego, and Dr. David Cannor-Norville, a psychiatric consultant to the US Anti-Doping Authority (USADA), discuss the need for, and challenges surrounding, mental health awareness and treatment in boxing. They also discuss what fighters can do for their own mental health – from getting enough sleep to surrounding themselves with a supportive inner circle. It’s a fascinating look at a side of the sport that arguably does not receive the attention it deserves.