This Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s celebrate some good news.

We have made tremendous strides in awareness and reducing the stigma that has long been attached to mental illness. Part of the credit should be attributed to elite and professional athletes. For example, former competitive swimmer Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, earned a total of 28 medals. He also holds the all-time records for Olympic gold medals, Olympic gold medals in individual events, and Olympic medals in individual events. In various interviews and memoirs, Phelps reports that he began swimming at the age of seven, partly to provide him with an outlet for his energy. When Phelps was in the sixth grade, he was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He took prescribed medication for several years, then found that swimming helped him control his energy and stopped him from being fidgety. With his doctor’s support, Phelps weaned himself off the medication and learned to use the power of his mind to control the ADHD symptoms. He has been open about his mental health journey.

As she trained for the 2020 Olympics, Simone Biles reportedly also went to therapy, where she learned coping mechanisms on how to get through stressful situations and deal with potential triggers. Heavily favored to win the women’s all-around gold medal, the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT), so far surpassed the competition, that pundits noted that the rest of the world’s gymnasts were competing for silver. Nevertheless, Biles set an example when she withdrew from the final individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games, in order to focus on her mental health. USA Gymnastics applauded her: “We wholeheartedly support Simone’s decision and applaud her bravery in prioritizing her well-being. Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many.” Biles was universally praised for having the strength and leadership to prioritize her mental health in the face of such high expectations. In recognition of World Mental Health Day, Biles was quoted as saying, “Use every outlet given to you. You’re not alone.”

Last year during Stanley Cup playoff season, news outlets reported that Tampa Bay Lightning hockey player Nick Paul created a campaign called “Points by Paul.” For each point he scored that season, he donated $150 to the Royal Ottawa Foundation for youth mental health. The Ottawa Senators Foundation matched each of his donations. Paul was impacted by the suicide of a friend during early high school years. As a result, while he played for the Ottawa Senators, he would often make school visits and other appearances to speak to youth about mental health. This year, as a Lightning player, he continued to use his platform to support mental health campaigns. "We need to strike the stigma and get everyone talking about mental wellness," Paul said in a video posted by Tampa Bay's Twitter account. "[We need] to help shine a light on those battling mental health challenges so they can discover a path to a brighter tomorrow." For every point he records for the remainder of the 2022-23 season, Nick Paul will donate $150 to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay gives services to people and families in crisis, including care coordination, counseling and a crisis hotline, open 24 hours, seven days a week. 

As I was drafting this note, I saw a clip on LX News that I found especially intriguing. It reported on “How Gen Z and Millennials Are Changing How We Talk About Mental Health.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_IaGPk-iMI According to the report, Gen Z and Millennials are the first generation that has embraced mental health as critical a part of health as physical health. The article cites four reasons why attitudes and openness about mental health are changing: 1) Mental health vertical in social media and memes; 2) Openness about mental health in pop culture; 3) Access to resources through technology; 4) The cool factor of seeking mental healthcare. The reporter concludes by noting, “We won’t stop the stigma of mental health unless we all talk about it. I will continue to work on my mental health and on myself because there’s no shame in that.”