Like Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka, put your mental health first and don’t feel guilty about prioritising your well-being

Don’t feel guilty for taking a ‘sad’ day – see it as taking charge of your health and well-being. Catch up on sleep, watch a load of films, or do nothing at all

Work sensible hours to avoid burnout, create clear boundaries between work and home so you know when to ‘switch off’ and ask for help when you’re struggling

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Sporting stars like Naomi Osaka (pictured) have made headlines in recent weeks for putting their emotional wellbeing before their careers, reminding us it’s OK to take days off for mental health. Photo: Getty Images

Published: 8:15pm, 5 Aug 2021Updated: 10:15pm, 5 Aug 2021

In June, Japanese-born tennis superstar Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open after her first-round victory, citing the need to preserve her mental health. The following month, during the first week of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, American gymnast Simone Biles took herself out of several gymnastics events, pointing out the mental and physical challenges of her sport and saying that she needed to protect her own well-being.

Criticism of both women was swift. They had stepped back for mental health reasons and not because of physical injury? A handful of journalists and news commentators called the athletes cowardly, immature and selfish, and mocked them for not being strong enough to handle the pressures of competition.

There was also an outpouring of support from well-known public figures, including retired American swimmer Michael Phelps, tennis greats Serena Williams and Billie Jean King, former US first lady Michelle Obama, NBA basketball player Stephen Curry, actor Will Smith and singer Justin Bieber.

The women’s struggles highlight the importance to sporting excellence of mental fortitude, but they also put the focus on mental health in the workplace and raise the question: if we can take time off work when we have a physical illness, why can’t we do the same when we’re suffering emotionally?

Simone Biles took herself out of several events during the first week of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, before returning to win a bronze medal on the balance beam. Photo: Getty Images

Mental health issues have been largely stigmatised in the workplace. Thanks in part to the coronavirus pandemic, employers have begun to take conditions like anxiety and depression seriously. But, according to clinical psychologist Dr Timothy Sharp, chief happiness officer at The Happiness Institute in Sydney, Australia, we still have a long way to go.