Athletes around the world are starting to value their mental health more than ever before. There are many examples of athletes across different sports that have spoken out about their mental health struggles and how they cope with this issue. According to the NCAA, “when asked whether they thought their mental health was a priority to their athletics department, 55% of men’s sports participants and 47% of women’s sports student-athletes agreed or strongly agreed” (Johnson, 2022). What this shows is that even at different levels of sport, the mental health of athletes should be taken seriously. One athlete that helped shine a light on the value of mental health in sport was Michael Phelps.
Michael Phelps is a professional American swimmer and is also the most decorated Olympian with 28 medals in total. He has been open about his mental health struggles and depression despite having many athletic achievements to his name. He has since created the Michael Phelps Foundation where they focus on empowering kids through water safety and wellness programs. His website also states that the Michael Phelps Foundation provides water safety education integrated with mental and physical wellness programs that give families the tools they need to keep kids happy, healthy, and safe. It is important for someone as influential as him to speak about mental health, especially about how dangerous a sport like swimming can be for children.
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Women in sports are also becoming more vocal about their mental health as well. Simone Biles is an American Olympic gold winning gymnast that is a strong advocate for mental health. During the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games, she withdrew due to having anxiety before her competition. She valued her mental health and safety over a possible injury. Another female athlete that spoke out about her mental health is Naomi Osaka. She withdrew from the French Open to due to mental health circumstances. She has experienced depression in the past and needed to take a break from the media to deal with personal issues affecting her. She said that “believe it or not, I am naturally introverted and do not court the spotlight.” (Osaka, 2021). She also emphasized that “there can be moments for any of us where we are dealing with issues behind the scenes” (Osaka. 2021). Athletes are feeling more empowered to take a stand where valuing mental health is more important than potentially harming themselves.
Physical contact sports like football have taken a safer approach to head injuries than they have in the past. Rules have been changed in the NFL to strongly value player safety; hoping to prevent athletes from getting CTE after their career is over. CTE is a brain disease that occurs from repeated severe trauma to the head. The Mayo Clinic mentions that the first form of CTE symptoms is: depression, anxiety, impulsive behavior and aggression. The second form of CTE symptoms occur later in life and include trouble with memory which could lead to dementia. Through extensive medical research, the NFL has developed better football helmets and implemented team safety practices where players conduct drills on performing safe physical contact.
With the evolution of technology and social media, athletes are now able to share their experiences with others online more conveniently. They can also educate others on the importance of mental health awareness through their own platforms. With emotional intelligence being implemented in sports practices, athletes can be more understood moving forward. Good mental health for athletes allows them to compete to the best of their ability and improve their lifestyle. Overall, athletes are just like anyone else, so prioritizing their health and wellness is a great example for others to follow.
Sources: Johnson, G. (2022, May 24). Mental health issues remain on student-athletes. NCAA. Retrieved from https://www.ncaa.org/news/2022/5/24/media-center-mental-health-issues-remain-on-minds-of-student-athletes.aspx
Mayo Clinic. (2026). Chronic traumatic encephalopathy. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20370921
Home – Michael Phelps Foundation
Osaka, N. (2021, July 8). It’s O.K. Not to Be O.K. TIME. Retrieved from https://time.com/6077128/naomi-osaka-essay-tokyo-olympics/
Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute. (2026). Simone Biles, an unexpected advocate for mental health. https://ppimhs.org/newspost/simone-biles-an-unexpected-advocate-for-mental-health/