Mental Health. Much talked about but really not well understood. Never really debated. And still less taken seriously. As if it isn’t normal to really deep dive into a discussion on the subject. I can have fever and its okay. I can have pain and that’s also very possible. But the moment I have depression, I am not fine anymore. I am weak and may be not good enough. How can someone mentally fragile play sport and how can he or she be successful? Also, you have to win for otherwise you aren’t good. It is a transaction- win and you are strong, lose and you are mentally fragile.
The truth is it is okay to be not okay. It is perfectly fine to be fragile and have anxieties. Be vulnerable. In fact, every person has his or her vulnerabilities. Imagine the kind of mental pressure a Neeraj was under in Tokyo. But then is it wrong for Neeraj to feel the apprehension? Isn’t it normal to be anxious, to feel the nervous energy? What’s the issue if he feels a tad nervous?
Ahead of World Mental Health Day let me turn to what Sachin Tendulkar had once told me, “What is sport all about? What is the main purpose of sport? Is it all about scoring runs and picking wickets? Is it all about scoring hundreds? My father always said to me that he wanted me to be a good human being. For him that’s what mattered and that’s what sport teaches us”, he said.
Sourav Ganguly added to it, “Unless you fail you will never learn to appreciate success. Every failure is a stepping stone to success. Every human being will have to encounter failure. That’s how you get better”, said Sourav.
Both are right. Unless you have frailties, you aren’t human.
As we approach world mental health day, it is safe to say that it is indeed okay to fail. If a couple of Indian players don’t have the best day in the Olympics, its understandable. That’s why Satwik and Chirag failed to medal in Paris. It was a blow yes but it happens. And we should all accept it and not push them to the brink.
In bringing these issues to the fore it is essential we write and speak more about the subject. At Revsportz we are doing a digital conclave with doctors and athletes. The idea is to encourage dialogue and get more and more people into the ambit of the conversation. The more you speak about it the better. When role models like Virat Kohli opens up on mental health challenges, the world stands up and takes notice. That’s why athletes of eminence need to do more. When Simone Biles walked out of Tokyo and highlighted the challenges, there was engagement on the issue with voices from across the world stepping in. Our own Manu Bhaker has also contributed to this engagement. Her own story- Tokyo and Paris is a case in point.
The point is to speak up. Write and engage. Debate and Discuss. Plenty more needs to be done. A designated world mental health day is a good enough starting point.
