‘Made Me Feel Less Alone’- Naomi Osaka on Outpouring Mental Health Struggles in Public

Naomi Osaka is a player who has revolutionized the world of tennis significantly. By voicing her opinion on sensitivity around mental health in tennis, she has made people realize how common it is for top players to battle such issues.

She recently talked about her partnership with ‘Modern Health’ to promote and sensitize people. The target population is the younger generation and an unrepresented section of the masses.

Naomi Osaka joins hands with Modern health to promote inclusivity

The Japanese player withdrew from the French Open in 2021. This marked a major step towards her call for an acknowledgment of the mental issues. From that point onwards, the player has been vocal about her take on mental health. She recently partnered with ‘Modern Health’ to make mental health a more inclusive topic.

The former world no. 1 said, “I hope by working together we can help others join the conversation. Too often people want the help of a professional and just don’t know how to find it.” 

Osaka on battling with mental health

According to the Japanese star, talking about mental health finally opened up a way to acknowledge others’ struggles as well. Osaka said, “Growing up, I kept quiet about my feelings when I felt anxious or just not myself. The outpouring from others about their own struggles made me feel less alone.”

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Therapy was a ‘scary-first step’ for the player. However, she has felt better after she has had regular sessions with her therapist and this helped her stay relaxed. She said, “I’m also trying to be more reflective every day.”

How did it help other people?

The Japanese player talked about her improvement and said, “This year, I am in a different state for sure…” She conveyed her gratefulness for the love and support she has been receiving and how it has helped others too. Osaka said, “So many people reached out to me privately and publicly. I was able to help someone else.” 

Naomi Osaka has been dealing with her Achilles issue, which had hampered her performance at the French Open 2022. She has recently withdrawn from the WTA event in Berlin.

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Moreover, she also expressed her doubt over her participation in the Wimbledon on account of WTA and ATP stripping ranking points from the event. So, we are yet to know about her presence at the grass-court major.