The Stigma of Mental Health among Athletes
The term “mental health” holds great gravity, even more so in the world of sports. Being an athlete means being viewed as a “modern hero” with the perseverance to achieve victory through any obstacle. However, in reality, athletes suffer from intense physical and mental demands and are not invincible as the world may perceive them to be. Naomi Osaka, for example, dominated the Australian Open in 2019 with 20 constructive wins and her U.S Open victory in 2020. The high of winning led her to the low—her mental health.
In mid-2021, Osaka suffered from depression and retired from the French Open, dropped out of Wimbledon, and lost at the U.S Open. She took a break from Tennis because she wanted to focus on herself; however, she faced backlash being called “petulant” and a “diva”. To prioritize mental health in oneself is seen as weak and puny, and in other cases, evokes discrimination against these people in need of help. We can see the same thing happened to Calvin Ridley, a former star receiver for the Atlanta Falcons, who spoke out about his trauma and inadequate mental health leading him to take a break.
Ridley states that the culture of health and medicine in the NFL led him down the wrong path. He faced significant criticism for his break because, to the people, it seemed like a “stupid” thing to do in the first place. Naomi Osaka’s and Calvin Rideley’s stories lead us to question - Why are mental health breaks responded to with criticism?
Sports are often categorized with physical toughness and pushing through adversity. Submitting to mental health issues is a sign of weakness. The older generation often avoids discussing mental health openly, leading them to prioritize work and push themselves relentlessly, even past their limitations. This tendency can result in the belief that taking a mental health break is merely an excuse for laziness or weakness. There is a lack of understanding and awareness of mental health issues compared to physical injuries, causing misunderstandings and dismissive behavior. Additionally, many athletes fear that if they start discussing their mental health, sports teams may drop them due to the perception that they are weak.
Data shows that 33% of all college students experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems, this data reveals that it’s especially relevant when it comes to college athletes. According to the athletesforhope.org, about 30% of the group tried to seek help; however, only 10% got it. Other data shows that 35% of professional athletes suffer from mental health.
The fear of being subjected to society’s cruelty prevents many athletes from speaking out and advocating for mental health. What can we do to help prevent this? Create a support system for athletes' mental health and surround them with individuals who understand their struggles and support their journey. Many sports organizations are now recognizing the importance of mental health, and so are many athletes. Osaka, by speaking out about her struggles and bringing awareness to mental health, changed how it was viewed, furthermore shifting the “man-up, get-over-it” mentality to the “let's sit down, and talk about it” understanding.
Works Cited
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Chartreau, I., & Chartreau, I. (2021, December 12). Naomi Osaka in 2021: the Fourth Grand Slam title, and the black hole. Tennis Majors. https://www.tennismajors.com/wta-tour-news/naomi-osaka-in-2021-the-fourth-grand-slam-title-and-the-black-hole-520204.html
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