If Naomi Osaka Prioritizes Her Mental Health, Then You Should Too

By Leslie Quan

A few days ago, I read on Twitter that Naomi Osaka was fined $15,000 for refusing to speak at a press conference. She was also threatened with expulsion by the organizers of the tournament. As a result, Osaka decided to withdraw from the tournament.

After reading up on the story, I learned that she cancelled her press obligations in order to preserve her mental health. Osaka stated that she had been struggling with depression and that press interviews make it even more difficult for her to focus on her mental health.

I think what Osaka did is extremely admirable. She did what most people wish they could do in their life: say no. Sometimes I find myself carrying more than I can handle yet I still add more to my plate everyday even though I know I should stop.

While I am not a professional tennis player (don't we all wish we were though?), I think many of us can relate to Osaka's decision to put her mental health first. When we finally decide to be kind to ourselves and invest in our self-care, it can make us feel in control of our lives and it can help us see things from a fresh perspective.

But that's the thing, it's a decision we have to make. Nobody is going to know if you need a break or if you're struggling with your mental health, it's up to you to speak up. By refusing to attend her press conference and speaking about her depression, Osaka is making a statement that her mental health is just as important as her professional tennis career.

I think we all can learn something from Osaka today. We should not suppress our mental health for the benefit of others. If you feel like you need a break, then you probably need a break. There is no harm in saying no, but there is harm in saying yes too often. I know for me, I need time to recharge in order to give a 100% effort. Sometimes I don't give myself that time to recharge because I'm busy with too many other commitments. From Osaka, I've learned a valuable lesson that saying no can be the first step to prioritizing mental health.