Mental health is more than a buzzword trending on social media.
The good news is that athletes have been publicly opening up about their mental health issues. The bad news is that there is still a stigma surrounding mental illness.
Women in professional sports are challenging the old way of thinking and advocating for wellness.
Simone Biles. Naomi Osaka. Liz Cambage.
These athletes are letting it be known that mental health is equally important as their physical health.
Olympian, Simone Biles dropped out of the team finals on Tuesday. Her exit from the gymnastics team for her mental health shines a light on what athletes are going through.
Naomi Osaka gave up her chance to win two Grand Slam events this year to focus on her mental health. She also stated that she feels her mental health break made it harder to deal with being the face of the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Earlier this month, WNBA star Liz Cambage withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics due to anxiety and panic attacks.
We don’t see these women as quitters, we see them as heroes.
It’s empowering for these women to tell their stories and not shy away from being an advocate for mental health. The risks they are taking to show their vulnerability by telling their truth is encouraging to girls who may struggle with the same things.
Here are a few tips to help you take care of your mental health:
- If things are getting too much for you, ask for help.
- Take a break and give yourself some ‘me time’ when necessary.
- Talk about your feelings, being listened to can help you feel supported.