Athlete Mental Health

“It’s a fear about being judged. It’s a fear of being seen as weak when you’re supposed to be seen as a competitive athlete,” one tennis player said.

The psychological challenges of sports have been talked about for ages. In 2021, athletes in a number of disciplines took action. Back in February, it felt like an ordinary instance of something extraordinary: Naomi Osaka, losing and facing match point against Garbiñe...

Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka and others could accelerate growing acceptance and decreasing stigma for mental health. They had the world’s spotlight shining on them. They had trained for years for this moment. Millions of fans waited to watch them compete and see...

Why aren’t mental health issues taken as seriously as physical issues? Nobody questions an athlete taking time to recover from a sprained ankle or broken wrist. Those injuries are easy to see and come with a clear understanding that they cannot be ignored. But what...