TOKYO: Experts are calling for understanding for tennis star Naomi Osaka after she withdrew from the French Open and revealed that she has suffered bouts of depression.

Prejudice regarding mental health issues is still strong, and it is especially hard for top athletes with sponsors to reveal their conditions, they say.

The world No. 2 female professional tennis player withdrew from Roland Garros after organizers fined her 15,000 dollars following her boycotting of a mandatory press conference following her first-round match in this year’s tournament and threatened further penalties if she repeatedly violates the media obligations. Osaka announced prior to the tournament that she would not be attending the press conferences due to the effects on her mental health.

“Even ordinary company workers need a tremendous amount of courage to reveal their mental health challenges,” said Mariko Ukiyo, an official at the Japan Mental Trainer Association, who has given mental support to many athletes.

Yasuhiro Obata, an official of the National Federation of Associations of Families with Mental Illness in Japan, said that many people with depression do not tell those around them of their condition due to deep-rooted prejudices.

“I believe it was inevitable for Osaka to avoid press conferences as she may have felt they would worsen her mental state,” Obata said. “I think she was forced to reveal her situation due to the unexpected criticisms (of her decision not to attend press conferences).”

“Top athletes are required to be perfect people due to the complicated interests of sponsors and others,” Masashi Hori, professor at Waseda University and executive of the Japanese Association of Sports Psychiatry, said.

“Athletes rest when they are injured, but mental issues are invisible and not well understood by others,” Hori added. “I want people to know that athletes also suffer anxiety and depression, as ordinary people do.”

Ukiyo slammed arguments by some critics that the controversy would not have become as large had Osaka revealed her depression earlier.

“Criticizing her for being late in her admission is a cowardly claim by bystanders,” Ukiyo said.

JIJI Press