While not the first Olympic athlete to open up about mental health challenges – Michael Phelps has publicly discussed his struggles with ADHD, depression, and even suicidal thoughts – Simone Biles was the first to prioritize her mental health when she withdrew from Olympic competition last summer.

Now Team USA is making mental health a concerted focus of their program for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Two hundred athletes will have access to therapists, psychiatrists, free wellness apps, and a crisis hotline throughout the competition

The courageous vulnerability of athletes addressing mental health has had a cumulative effect. Biles’ groundbreaking decision was inspired by four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka’s courage in withdrawing from the 2021 French Open to focus on her mental well-being. Osaka admitted she experienced “long bouts of depression” over the three years since winning the US Open in 2018 in addition to social anxiety. Her decision opened her up to considerable criticism in the media as well as public shows of support from other champion athletes, such as Steph Curry and Serena Williams. 

Athletes’ willingness to admit their struggles can help break the stigma around mental illness. Joshua Norman, a sports psychiatrist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, hopes they will inspire others to get help: “Folks who are extremely high achieving like Simone Biles, Michael Phelps…also struggle with mental health conditions. I think having folks like that with those types of platforms speaking out…really helps not only other athletes but folks within the general population that may look up to these athletes. It may help them seek treatment.”

Read more about the new priority on mental health here:

Mental health is a focus for Team USA at Beijing Olympics

Kekatos, Mary. “Mental health a focus for Team USA at Beijing Olympics” ABC News, 6 Feb 2022, abcnews.go.com/Sports/team-usa-addressing-mental-health-2022-winter-olympics/story?id=82310640.

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