Michael Phelps was recently honored for the work he has done to call attention to the field of mental health when he was presented with the Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion, and the 23-time gold medalist has continued to share his own experiences to raise awareness.
Phelps has partnered with an app called Talkspace, which gives users access to help from licensed therapists. On Sunday, he sent some tweets talking about what led him to seek help.
Did you know that one in four people around the world experience a mental health issue? I was one of them. That’s why I’ve teamed up with @Talkspace this #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth –– to let you know that getting help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) May 26, 2019
I struggled with anxiety and depression and questioned whether or not I wanted to be alive anymore. 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
— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) May 26, 2019
Phelps has also dedicated much of his work with the Michael Phelps Foundation to educating people on the importance of mental health treatment and overcoming the stigmas associated with it.
We have seen more and more prominent athletes open up about their mental health issues in recent years, with Kevin Love launching a similar fund to the one Phelps has and former NFL wide receiver Steve Smith speaking publicly about his battle with depression. There are few athletes in the world who are more recognizable than Phelps, which is why he’s being applauded for his efforts.
