Member-only story
Taboo Topic: Mental Health
Taboo Topic: Mental Health — What’s Your Breaking Point?
#2 in a series of 8
During a global pandemic and a crescendo of protesting in support of Black Lives Matter, Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perry’s, What Happened To You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience and Healing is one book, released in 2020, that opened a bigger conversation about trauma and the effects on our mental health.
Simone Biles, a superstar American gymnast pulled out of Olympic events this summer because of mental health challenges. She said, “I have to do what’s right for me and focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health and my wellbeing.”
Naomi Osaka, a Japanese champion tennis player pulled out of competition to focus on her mental health and happiness. And it’s not just women. Male athletes have been sharing their personal struggles with panic attacks, ADHD, performance anxiety, and other mental health conditions.
Between the pandemic and famous people becoming more transparent, it is showing the contrast between support for people who have a physical health challenge and a mental health challenge. There is still shame around needing mental health support that is not present for a physical illness. What is needed for both physical and mental challenges is support, empathy and compassion.
