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After a dominating performance in the first round of the French Open, much to everyone’s surprise, tennis superstar Naomi Osaka announced her withdrawal from the competition. The move comes after Osaka faced severe backlash from tennis officials and had to pay a $15,000 fine for declining to do press conferences.
Osaka has said she has struggled mightily with anxiety and depression since the 2018 US Open and said she suffers “huge waves of anxiety” before speaking with the media. “I’ve often felt that people have no regard for athlete’s mental health,” she wrote, “and this rings very true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one.”
Many athletes struggle with mental health issues
Osaka is not the only athlete struggling with anxiety and depression. It has been estimated that 35% of elite athletes suffer from a mental health crisis which may manifest as stress, eating disorders, burnout or anxiety. Many athletes have also spoke up about their mental health struggles, including Michael Phelps, Kevin Love, Aly Raisman and Andrew Luck. Athletes seem to lead the perfect life, accomplishing superhuman feats by overcoming their limits and receiving all the recognition and praise.
Yet, athletes are human as well and have their own personal struggles. Unfortunately, opening up about one’s mental health can often be perceived as feeble mindedness or a convenient excuse, preventing athletes from being open about their struggles. After Osaka decided to boycott press conferences citing mental health concerns, you would think officials might have showed more concern and understanding. Instead, officials chided her for neglecting her duties as a professional and even threatened her with possible suspension and fines.
As athletes keep their struggles to themselves, it could lead to disastrous consequences. At the 2010 Olympics, skier Jeret “Speedy” Peterson clinched the silver medal. A year and a half earlier, he took his own life. Athletes Stephen Scherer and Kelly Catlin had dreamt of becoming Olympians, but had subsequently committed suicide.
Be vocal about your mental health
Athletes are not the only ones suffering from mental health struggles, we all do. In 2017, more than one in ten people globally lived with a mental health disorder. Yet, most of us do not seek help. In a poll done by American Addiction Centers, less than half of the respondents said they would tell their family or friend that they are not interested in going out due to depression. Globally, more than 70% of people with mental illnesses do not seek treatment. Lack of mental health support, prejudice towards the mentally ill and lack of knowledge about the treatability of mental illnesses are all significant barriers preventing people from seeking treatment.
For a start, we all have to start speaking up about our mental health. Speaking up about our mental health struggles is not a weakness, but a strength. In speaking up, you are telling others that they are not alone in the struggle, that having a mental illness is perfectly normal and that you just took the first step on the path to recovery.
As a society, we have to take mental health concerns more seriously. We need to be mindful of whimsical, errant statements of others that could possibly allude to mental health elements, such as “wanting to jump off a cliff” because they feel disorganized. Everyone of us has our own story and our own battles to fight. Just because someone might appear jovial or is highly accomplished, we should take their concerns seriously and not be so quick to brush them off.
A big win for Osaka
The Osaka saga has paved the way for many others to be more vocal about their mental health struggles. Osaka has taught us all that we should take our mental health very seriously and not be afraid to walk any from anything that could compromise our mental health. The four-time grand slam winner might not be walking away with her 5th title, but she has accomplished something far greater in the process.