In recent years, young athletes like tennis star Naomi Osaka, gymnast Simone Biles, and snowboarder Chloe Kim have begun to break the stigma around talking about mental health in the sport. world of professional sports.
Osaka famously made headlines last year when withdrew from the French Open to focus on your mental well-being. Now the four-time Grand Slam singles champion is partnering with modern healtha mental health platform, to continue destigmatizing mental illness, especially among younger generations and underrepresented populations.
The professional tennis player will serve as the lead community health advocate for Modern Health’s community impact program, which will provide underserved communities with access to mental health care and resources.
“I hope that by working together we can help others join the conversation and also offer clinically supported resources, because too often people want professional help and just don’t know how to find it,” says Osaka. BAZAAR.COM.
Osaka herself has had a rocky relationship with mental health care, and it wasn’t until recently that she began to speak out about her mental health struggles and put effort into helping herself heal.
“Growing up, I kept quiet about my feelings, and in particular about times when I felt anxious or just wasn’t myself. I think that while mental health is a topic that we’re starting to be more open about For some people, there’s still a stigma attached to it,” he says. “After speaking, my point of view about expressing the need for a break, a space or help really changed. Talking and being really honest with everyone has allowed me so much freedom and a sense of relief, and the outpouring of others about their own struggles made me feel less alone”.
Some things that have helped her on her journey are meditation and therapy. The first, she says, allows her to start the day feeling balanced and purposeful, “instead of being dominated by anxiety.” And while she was initially resistant to therapy and found it “a scary first step,” attending sessions regularly has also given her peace of mind.
“I’m also trying to be more reflective every day and make sure I take note of what I’ve accomplished or what I’m thankful for,” says Osaka. BAZAAR.
The tennis star is in a very different state of mind than she was when she left the French Open last summer, but she still sees the moment as a turning point for her.
“I think all of us athletes can relate to feeling pressure, not just from the outside world, but also the pressure we put on ourselves,” says Osaka. “As an athlete, strength is key to how you’re perceived, so for me to admit that I wasn’t always great was a big step. The good thing is that I learned after speaking that not only was I not alone, but I admitted that I needed a break. It meant that he was not weak. In fact, it takes more strength to speak than to remain silent.”
Today she is healing, less afraid to confront her own anxieties, and empowered by how the world has reacted to her opening up.
“This year, I’m in a different state for sure. While I may not always feel 100 percent, I can express my feelings,” says the athlete.
Within the world of professional sports, professional tennis in particular has long been known as an incredibly quiet, elite, non-inclusive universe. But in recent years, that has begun to change, largely thanks to stars like Osaka, as well as venus and serena williams.
Osaka says she is “honored” to be a part of that change and has been pleasantly surprised by the support she has received from her peers since addressing her mental health issues last year.
“A lot of people reached out to me in private and in public, and it really helped me to know that I wasn’t alone, but also that I could help someone else,” she says. “The conversation about mental health in sports has really just started, but I’m very optimistic about the direction it’s moving in. I see more than ever athletes speaking out without shame or stigma, and instead of being seen as weak, they are being considered as human. This should become the standard and not the exception.”
Like Osaka, Team USA gymnast Simone Biles has pulled out of part of the Tokyo Olympics, admitting her body and mind just weren’t in sync. And Olympic snowboarding champion Chloe Kim announced that she would be sitting out the 2022-23 season to focus on her mental health after a “grueling” year.
When asked if the fame that comes with being a professional athlete has contributed to her mental health issues over the past two years, Osaka says yes, but in many ways it has been worth it.
“I remember when I came back from France last year, photographers followed me around even in random places like the grocery store. It felt really weird and a little bit overwhelming, until one day a woman came up to me and said that by talking, I helped her son,” says Osaka. “In that moment, I felt like it was all worth it. While fame can be overwhelming, it has worked out really well for me.”
Being a public figure has allowed her to start her own foundation, Play Academy, where girls are encouraged and trained to play sports, as well as launch her management company, Evolve, and skincare brand, KINLÒ, It offers sun and skin protection. Products for people with melanized skin.
“All the things I can do because of fame will always outweigh the pressures I may experience being in the spotlight, and knowing that each of these projects can help others is even more rewarding,” says Osaka.
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