Naomi Osaka health: ‘It’s OK to not be OK’ – tennis star on ‘long bouts’ of depression

Naomi Osaka: Pundits discuss French Open withdrawal

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In the past Osaka has called the post-tennis match press conference “outdated” and in need of a reboot. A candid essay written by the star in Time, revealed her battles with mental health and the key lessons she has learnt along the way to take care of her emotional wellbeing. It was in this essay that the record breaking tennis player confessed that she needed to miss French Open press conferences in order to “take care of [herself] mentally,” but was unprepared for the reaction it caused as a result.

Back in May 2021, after Osaka’s refusal to talk to reporters, the tournament fined her $15,000, but Osaka hit back saying that press conferences need to become “less subject vs object; more peer to peer”.

She wrote: “I always try to push myself to speak up for what I believe to be right, but that often comes at a cost of great anxiety.

“I feel uncomfortable being the spokesperson or face of athlete mental health as it’s still so new to me and I don’t have all the answers. I do hope that people can relate and understand it’s OK to not be OK, and it’s OK to talk about it.”

The star’s focus on mental health is not a relatively new issue, as the star divulged that she had “suffered long bouts of depression” since her victory against the great Serena Williams at the US Open back in 2018.

Posting a statement on Twitter to explain more about her decision to pull out of the French Open, Osaka wrote: “I’ve often felt that people have no regard for athletes’ mental health and this rings very true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one.

“We are often sat there and asked questions that we’ve been asked multiple times before or asked questions that bring doubt into our minds and I’m just not going to subject myself to people that doubt me.

“I’ve watched many clips of athletes breaking down after a loss in the press room and I know you have as well.

“I believe that the whole situation is kicking a person while they’re down and I don’t understand the reasoning behind it.

“I hope the considerable amount that I get fined for this will go towards a mental health charity.”

Following on from the debacle at the French Open, Osaka opted out of competing at Wimbledon, but returned to take part in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where she faced a shocking defeat to Marketa Vondrousova.

Since then the star has called for the “tennis hierarchy” to allow a number of “sick days” where players are to be excused from press commitments without having to disclose the personal reasons for why.

On her return to competition, and after her most recent victory at the Australian Open today, Osaka seemed level-headed.

The star commented: “I returned pretty well, that’s not my usual stat but I’ve been really working on that in the off season.

“I’m trying not to rate my level, if I compare myself to the past I will never be satisfied. I’m trying to take it one day at a time.”

Her performance and ability as an athlete then came with praise from Murray, who took to Twitter to write: “Anyone hit the ball cleaner from the baseline than @naomiosaka?”

The praise was reciprocated soon after by the four-time Grand Slam champion who replied saying: “Anyone put their heart on their sleeve and fight harder than @andy_murray?”

Women’s Health explains that data concerning mental health for athletes at university level is “alarming”. It shows that about 33 percent deal with “significant symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other conditions”. For professional athletes, data shows that “35 percent suffer from some sort of mental health issue, which could show up as stress, an eating disorder, burnout, substance misuse, or depression and anxiety.”

The Mental Health Foundation agrees, explaining that mental health problems are one of the main causes of overall disease burden worldwide. Major depression in particular is thought to be the second leading cause of disability worldwide, and a major contributor to the burden of ischemic heart disease.

The NHS explains that depression is more than simply feeling unhappy or fed up for a few days. When you become depressed, you feel persistently sad for weeks or months rather than just a few days.

Symptoms of depression range from mild to severe, and can have both mental and physical effects on individuals. During a depressive “episode,” individuals can experience the following symptoms nearly every day:

• Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness
• Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters
• Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports
• Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much
• Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks take extra effort
• Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased cravings for food and weight gain
• Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
• Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or self-blame
• Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
• Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide
• Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches.

For confidential guidance and support, Samaritans are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Individuals can call 116 123 or email [email protected].

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