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The well-decorated Olympian shares his experience with mental health issues and calls for people to make their mental health a priority.

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Make Mental Health a Priority, Olympian Michael Phelps Urges

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Widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time and an outspoken advocate for mental wellness, Olympian Michael Phelps talked about his own struggles during a conversation with SHRM President and CEO Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., at SHRM21.

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General Opinions on Mental Health and Athletes

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General Opinions on Mental Health and Athletes

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Measures in Place to Help Athletes with Mental Health

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Measures in Place to Help Athletes with Mental Health

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The Olympic Committee has given athletes access to free counseling, group therapy, and hotlines in case of crisis.

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At last year's Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles brought the mental pressures felt by athletes to the forefront with her stunning decision to withdraw from competitions. This time around, Team USA organizers are committed to taking care of athletes' mental health.

At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, sports psychologists will be available in the villages and at the venues for any issues athletes may be facing, said U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Senior Sport Psychologist Alex Cohen.

"That's something we want to message very differently from Tokyo - I think a lot of the athletes were under the impression they had to be in crisis. But you could just be having a crummy day ... and we're going to be available," says Bartley.

Athletes will be given access to free counseling, group therapy, and hotlines in case of crisis, Jessica Bartley, the USOPC director of mental health, told the virtual Team USA media summit.

Team USA is also providing free access to wellness apps like WellTrack and Headspace Plus, and have curated a list of counselors who have experience with elite athletes.

In Tokyo, Biles said she felt like she was carrying "the weight of the world on her shoulders," which caused her to withdraw for the sake of her mental health. Many supported and even thanked Biles for her courage.

Biles certainly isn't the only Olympic athlete to grapple with the pressure of competition. Michael Phelps candidly shared his experiences with depression and Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open after admitting that she struggled with depression and anxiety.

Lindsey Vonn, the most decorated female skier of all time, also revealed that she's endured a decades-long battle with depression.

"I think I was misunderstood in a lot of ways," she told Hoda and Jenna. "I think everyone thought that because I was successful on the mountain that I was always happy and I led a perfect life, and that's absolutely not true."

Athletes and experts say the mental strain for athletes can be overwhelming, especially at the Olympics.

"It is a unique pressure because of the idea that it's once every four years and then if you think about the fact that it is very difficult to become a two-time Olympian. So when folks go to the Olympics it may be their only shot," James Houle, a sports psychologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told TODAY.

The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to the strain, with training schedules disrupted and family and friends unable to accompany athletes and provide support.

Bronze medal-winning figure skater Gracie Gold withdrew from competition ahead of the 2018 Olympics, saying she would seek treatment for depression, anxiety and an eating disorder.

"Definitely athletes in the spotlight - figure skaters, especially - are under pressure to fit a certain mold, and fit a certain body type," Gold told TODAY.

But after getting the mental health treatment and support she needed, Gold vowed that she would skate again one day - and skate, she did. On Jan. 7, she had her comeback performance in the women's free skate program during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Nashville.

Gold had a message for athletes competing at the Olympics in Beijing: "There is not an Olympic medal for who can suffer in silence the longest."

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Team USA athletes receive mental health resources for Winter Olympics

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At last year's Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles brought the mental pressures felt by athletes to the forefront with her stunning decision to withdraw from competitions. This time around, Team USA organizers are committed to taking care of athletes' mental health.

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This article contains tips to help deal with mental health issues like journaling and exercising.

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1. Track gratitude and achievement with a journal. Include 3 things you were grateful for and 3 things you were able to accomplish each day.

2. Start your day with a cup of coffee. Coffee consumption is linked to lower rates of depression. If you can't drink coffee because of the caffeine, try another good-for-you drink like green tea.

3. Set up a getaway. It could be camping with friends or a trip to the tropics. The act of planning a vacation and having something to look forward to can boost your overall happiness for up to 8 weeks!

4, Work your strengths. Do something you're good at to build self-confidence, then tackle a tougher task.

5. Keep it cool for a good night's sleep. The optimal temperature for sleep is between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. "You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." - Martin Luther King, Jr. Think of something in your life you want to improve, and figure out what you can do to take a step in the right direction.

7. Experiment with a new recipe, write a poem, paint or try a Pinterest project. Creative expression and overall well-being are linked.

8. Show some love to someone in your life. Close, quality, relationships are key for a happy, healthy life.

9. Boost brainpower by treating yourself to a couple pieces of dark chocolate every few days. The flavonoids, caffeine, and theobromine in chocolate are thought to work together to improve alertness and mental skills.

10. "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you." -Maya Angelou. If you have personal experience with mental illness or recovery, share on Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr with #mentalillnessfeelslike. Check out what other people are saying here.

11. Sometimes, we don't need to add new activities to get more pleasure. We just need to soak up the joy in the ones we've already got. Trying to be optimistic doesn't mean ignoring the uglier sides of life. It just means focusing on the positive as much as possible.

12. Feeling anxious? Take a trip down memory lane and do some coloring for about 20 minutes to help you clear your mind. Pick a design that's geometric and a little complicated for the best effect. Check out hundreds of free printable coloring pages here.

13. Take time to laugh. Hang out with a funny friend, watch a comedy or check out cute videos online. Laughter helps reduce anxiety.

14. Go off the grid. Leave your smart phone at home for a day and disconnect from constant emails, alerts, and other interruptions. Spend time doing something fun with someone face-to-face.

15. Dance around while you do your housework. Not only will you get chores done, but dancing reduces levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), and increases endorphins (the body's "feel-good" chemicals).

16. Go ahead and yawn. Studies suggest that yawning helps cool the brain and improves alertness and mental efficiency.

17. Relax in a warm bath once a week. Try adding Epsom salts to soothe aches and pains and help boost magnesium levels, which can be depleted by stress.

18. Has something been bothering you? Let it all out...on paper. Writing about upsetting experiences can reduce symptoms of depression.

19. Spend some time with a furry friend. Time with animals lowers the stress hormone - cortisol, and boosts oxytocin - which stimulates feelings of happiness. If you don't have a pet, hang out with a friend who does or volunteer at a shelter.

20. "What lies before us and what lies behind us are small matters compared to what lies within us. And when you bring what is within out into the world, miracles happen." - Henry David Thoreau. Practice mindfulness by staying "in the present." Try these tips.

21. Be a tourist in your own town. Often times people only explore attractions on trips, but you may be surprised what cool things are in your own backyard.

22. Try prepping your lunches or picking out your clothes for the work week. You'll save some time in the mornings and have a sense of control about the week ahead.

23. Work some omega-3 fatty acids into your diet -they are linked to decreased rates of depression and schizophrenia among their many benefits. Fish oil supplements work, but eating your omega-3s in foods like wild salmon, flaxseeds or walnuts also helps build healthy gut bacteria.

24. Practice forgiveness - even if it's just forgiving that person who cut you off during your commute. People who forgive have better mental health and report being more satisfied with their lives.

25. "What appear to be calamities are often the sources of fortune." - Disraeli. Try to find the silver lining in something kind of cruddy that happened recently.

26. Feeling stressed? Smile. It may not be the easiest thing to do, but smiling can help to lower your heart rate and calm you down.

27. Send a thank you note - not for a material item, but to let someone know why you appreciate them. Written expressions of gratitude are linked to increased happiness.

28. Do something with friends and family - have a cookout, go to a park, or play a game. People are 12 times more likely to feel happy on days that they spend 6-7 hours with friends and family.

29. Take 30 minutes to go for a walk in nature - it could be a stroll through a park, or a hike in the woods. Research shows that being in nature can increase energy levels, reduce depression and boost well-being.

30. Do your best to enjoy 15 minutes of sunshine, and apply sunscreen. Sunlight synthesizes Vitamin D, which experts believe is a mood elevator.

31. "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." -Albert Einstein. Try something outside of your comfort zone to make room for adventure and excitement in your life.

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1. Track gratitude and achievement with a journal. Include 3 things you were grateful for and 3 things you were able to accomplish each day. 2. Start your day with a cup of co­ffee. Coff­ee consumption is linked to lower rates of depression.

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Mental Health Personal Accounts and Impact

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Mental Health Personal Accounts and Impact

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Ever since Biles pulled out of the Olympics to prioritize her mental health, the conversation has started to realize how athletes have mental issues as well.

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How the Tokyo Olympics Changed the Conversation About Mental Health

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Simone Biles' courageous choice, amplified by the Olympics spotlight, created an opportunity for mental health discussions to move from raising awareness to positive action

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Multiple Accounts of Athletes with Mental Health Issues

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Multiple Accounts of Athletes with Mental Health Issues

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Within this article, it collects accounts of athletes dealing with their mental health. This shows how many athletes are impacted by mental health issues, thus opens up the conversation.

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After Simone Biles stepped away from the U.S. women's gymnastics team in the all-around contest earlier this week, people around the world have continued to elevate conversations surrounding mental health especially in competitive sports.

Some athletes, including Michael Phelps, have detailed the challenges of invisible illnesses including anxiety or depression, reminding people that professional athletes are "human beings," too. Olympic stress especially is a "weight on your shoulders" that's not the easiest thing to carry by yourself," Olympian and softball star Cat Osterman has said.

Balancing the pressure to succeed does not come easy, many of the athletes explained, and the need to prioritize their health while elevating conversations surrounding mental health is now more crucial than ever.
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Here are what 13 professional athletes have said regarding mental health:

Simone Biles

"I have to put my pride aside. I have to do what's right for me and focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health and well-being," she told reporters after exiting the women's team final on Tuesday. "That's why I decided to take a step back."

Michael Phelps

"Mental health over the last 18 months is something people are talking about," Phelps said, in part, during a broadcast of the Tokyo Games. "We're human beings. Nobody is perfect. So yes, it is OK not to be OK."

Phelps noted his personal challenges with mental health in a May 2019 tweet. "I struggled with anxiety and depression and questioned whether or not I wanted to be alive anymore," he wrote. "It was when I hit this low that I decided to reach out and ask for the help of a licensed therapist. This decision ultimately helped save my life. You don't have to wait for things."

Naomi Osaka

"I do hope that people can relate and understand it's OK to not be OK, and it's OK to talk about it," Naomi Osaki wrote in TIME Magazine earlier this month. "There are people who can help, and there is usually light at the end of any tunnel."

Cat Osterman

"I think the Olympics are a special situation [...] There is a common conception as an athlete that if you come home with less than silver it's a disappointment and you think you're going to go home and all of a sudden be 'less than' in people's eyes and I've experienced that," Osterman said during a recent press conference at the Tokyo Olympics. "I've experienced the mental health downside that went with it. Not something I've spoken about publicly, but as an athlete, when you have all that weight on your shoulders and if you don't have the right people in your corner or you're not tapping into them day-to-day, it's not the easiest thing to carry by yourself."
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Katie Ledecky
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"Mental health is so important," Ledecky said during a recent press conference at the Tokyo Olympics. "Physical health is so important and it's no different being Olympians."
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Noah Lyles

"Mental health is just a part of life," Lyles told USA TODAY, in part, during a recent interview. "Just like the reason you go to a doctor is to make sure that your body is okay, the reason you go to a therapist or talk to somebody is to make sure your mind is okay."

April Ross
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"I think mental health is huge," Ross told USA TODAY, in part, during a recent interview. "I believe that mental health translates into physical health and performance."

Monica Abbott

"People forget about the day-to-day grind and demands. [...] All that hype takes a toll on a person," Abbott said during a recent press conference at the Tokyo Olympics. "As athletes, we compete at such a high level. We vibrate at such a high energy level, that putting that in on a daily basis, on show for a stage, always being on, it can be difficult."

Sakura Kokumai

"I learned over this year that I, again, tend to train on my own and figure things out on my own, but I realized the importance of reaching out to people and just talking it through, or realizing it's okay to just ask for help sometimes," Kokumai told USA TODAY, in part, during a recent interview.

Kevin Love

"I used to be a guy who kept to myself and was reluctant to share my life," Love told USA TODAY Sports during a 2019 interview. "But that was me having quite a bit of social anxiety and the feeling of constantly having a threat and swimming upstream. So I figured I'm just going to live my life and share it, and by even sharing my story through mental health, it's allowed me to help a lot of people.
If you are going through a mental health emergency, The Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741. If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) any time day or night, or chat online. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has resources to help if you need to find support for yourself or a loved one.
Valerie Arioto

"This awareness to the topic of mental health is really going to help a lot of athletes and help just people, in general, be aware of their mental health during this time," Arioto said during a recent press conference at the Tokyo Olympics.

Dak Prescott

"I think that [it] is important to be vulnerable, to be genuine and to be transparent," Prescott said in a September 2020 interview with journalist Graham Bensinger. "That goes a long way when you are a leader and your voice is being heard by so many and you can inspire."

Ronda Rousey

"It's not a weakness we should condemn," Rousey told The Huffington Post regarding her mental health struggles in a 2016 interview. "I've never shied away from talking about suicide or anything like that. It's really heavily affected [my] family, and anything that I could do to make sure it affects as few people as possible, I'd be happy to do that."

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Mental health is front and center at Tokyo Olympics. Here's how some athletes deal with it.

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After Simone Biles stepped away from the U.S. women's gymnastics team in the all-around contest earlier this week, people around the world have continued to elevate conversations surrounding mental health especially in competitive sports. Some athletes, including Michael Phelps, have detailed the challenges of invisible illnesses including anxiety or depression, reminding people that professional athletes are "human beings," too.

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Resources to Help Manage Mental Health Issues

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Resources to Help Manage Mental Health Issues

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This resource has numbers and websites to access if you or a loved one need help. These phone numbers are open 24/7, 365 so please call if you need to.

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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

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If you or someone you know has a mental illness, there are ways to get help. Use these resources to find help for yourself, a friend, or a family member.