Mental health is having a moment — Let's start a broader movement

As a mental health advocate, I’ve been closely following the news about Naomi Osaka and the French Open. In case you haven’t been, Osaka announced that she would pass on press conferences at Roland-Garros, citing her continuous battle with depression and anxiety. In a tone-deaf decision, tournament officials issued a $15,000 fine along with the possibility that she could face harsher penalties. Following that response, Osaka decided to withdraw from the tournament. (Read her statement here.)

While tournament officials brought the hammer down, several brands came out in support of Osaka's bold move to preserve her mental wellness in the face of possible expulsion. In doing so, Nike, Mastercard and the like earned priceless (looking at you, Mastercard) coins in the trust piggy bank.

So often we feel this pressure to jeopardize our mental health for professional and personal responsibilities — it's a conundrum. And, Osaka is a prime example of what can sometimes happen when we choose to look after ourselves and our health.

I hope brands and, more importantly, organizations can acknowledge the significant role mental health plays in our ability to do great work, especially with the influx of DE&I programs (addressing ableism and investing in a mentally healthy workplace are often left out of these conversations and initiatives).

And this can't go without being said: From a prior stint as a journalist, and a current PR practitioner, I understand the importance of press conferences, but sports press conferences are some of the most toxic environments at times, asking athletes intimate questions in the least intimate setting. That being said, we need to strike a balance and come to an understanding that public figures do not owe any journalist unadulterated vulnerability.

Mental health has had its spotlight moments throughout the pandemic, and Osaka's experience is the latest example. I hope this starts a broader movement toward organizations, and society at large, prioritizing mental health.