With the annual #BellLetsTalk day in full swing in Canada, discussion in the sports world has once again shifted to mental health. While the once a year promotion serves its purpose in raising funds for mental health initiatives north of the border, many have called for a more comprehensive approach from the media giant that encompasses year round support.
Social media timelines are currently well stocked with the hashtag, but there are plenty of athletes who are making meaningful contributions to the mental health conversation far more frequently. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of some of the athletes who put their money (and time) where their mouth is 365 days a year:
Ronda Rousey (WWE/MMA)
The former UFC champion tragically lost her father due to suicide at the age of 8. As a result, Rousey has been a tireless champion for mental health initiatives throughout her career.
One such project is the Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services organization. The service has been providing substance abuse, mental health, and suicide prevention programs since 1942. Rousey’s involvement helped them open their newest location in California in 2019.
Kevin Love (NBA)
The 2016 NBA champion began his own charitable foundation, The Kevin Love Fund, to raise money for various mental health initiatives. Love has publicly shared his battles with anxiety and depression, and utilizes the motto “Everyone is going through something that we can’t see.” as the guiding principle for his charity.
Love and his group strive to normalize conversations about mental health and encourage people to pursue optimal mental health in the same way they strive for good physical health.
Naomi Osaka (Tennis)
More than a few headlines were generated last year when Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open citing mental health as part of the rationale for not speaking with the media. Osaka, currently the highest paid female athlete in the world, has since become a strong advocate for putting your mental health first.
Initially fined $15,000 for skipping mandatory media sessions, Osaka advocated that the fine be instead donated to charity, something the tournament refused to do. Luckily meditation and mindfulness app CALM stepped in and made things right:
Osaka has since begun working with other prominent sponsors (MasterCard, Nike etc.) to help keep the conversation, and donations flowing to mental health initiatives world wide.
Simone Biles (Gymnastics)
After withdrawing from 5 of the 6 final events at the Tokyo Olympics for mental health reasons, Simone Biles has leaned in to being an outspoken mental health advocate.
One of the greatest gymnasts the sport has ever seen, Biles received more than her fair share of criticism for her decision to withdraw from multiple events at the summer games. However she’s turning that into an opportunity to continue the discussion around mental health.
Last September Biles and several of her Olympic teammates kicked off a 35 city exhibition tour which will focus on gymnastics, and candid discussions around mental health. The 24 year old has been open about her frequent trips to therapy as one of her outlets. “I mean, I’m in therapy. I go to therapy pretty religiously,” she said. “And it’s just something that took hold of me, your body and your mind tells you when enough is enough.”
Nick Paul (NHL)
Ottawa Senators forward Nick Paul recently announced he would be launching a new initiative called “Points by Paul”. For each point Paul scores during the season he’ll donate $150 to The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Foundation. That figure will then be matched by the Senators charitable arm, the Sens Foundation.
Furthering his commitment to the cause, Paul also sits on the Royal Foundation board and donates his time interacting with youth at the facility. During the announcement, Paul shed light on the personal connection he has to the cause, having lost a high school friend to suicide many years ago.
Others
There are hundreds of other prominent athletes making a difference in the effort to erase the stigma surrounding mental health. Household names such as Michael Phelps, Serena Williams, Aly Raisman, DeMar DeRozan, Amanda Beard, Abby Wambach and Ricky Williams are just some of the names who have been outspoken regarding the need for improved support systems and access to the care patients need.
With dozens of reputable charities in Canada alone, donors should be able to find one that aligns with their values and has a personal connection to them. For a list of Canadian charities with a focus on mental health support/advocacy see here.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner