Naomi Osaka Prioritised Her Mental Health Over Work. Can We?

Last week, 23-year-old World Number 2 tennis player Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open, after being fined and threatened with expulsion by the tournament organisers for refusing to attend post-match press conferences to protect her mental health. In fact, she revealed that she has suffered from “long bouts of depression” and found it anxiety-inducing to speak to the media. While she received widespread support from fellow athletes and her fans, she was also criticised for not being able to handle the pressure and that speaking to the media is part of her job. This raises the question: why are people still unable to put themselves and their mental health before their professional priorities, without judgment? How can we do better to support not just public figures but the people around us when they speak up about their mental health? We speak to clinical psychologist Evone Phoo to find out.

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