The United States Tennis Association announced a Mental Health Initiative on Tuesday to provide more mental health resources to players competing in the US Open next week.
According to People, part of the initiative will include licensed mental health providers on-site and quiet rooms for the players.
In a statement, the USTA said the program “will ensure that a holistic approach is taken with all aspects of player health, including mental health.”
This initiative is also a direct response to conversations about mental health and athletic performance that were brought to the forefront earlier this year after Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open in May to focus on her mental health.
The USTA is working with Dr. Claudia Reardon, a professor from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine‘s psychiatry department.
“We are working to create an environment that supports overall mental well-being,” Dr. Reardon said in a statement. “That means taking action on many levels, from dealing with acute emergencies to addressing the root causes of athletes’ mental health challenges. It is essential that mental health and well-being be seen as inseparable from overall health.”
USTA First Vice President Dr. Brian Hainline said, “Our goal is to make mental health services as readily available to athletes as services for a sprained ankle — and with no stigma attached.”
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