Stars who walked away from success to protect their mental health

In the past, people saw the best approach to mental health as simply getting on with things, particularly those who are most successful in their field, such as athletes, singers, and other celebrities. These professions are often unreceptive to those who prioritize mental health, and celebrity mental health was rarely discussed in public.

For example, Naomi Osaka, a tennis player, was fined $15,000 in the 2021 French Open for skipping a press conference. Her case, and three other stars leaving fame behind for a while, are covered in the sections that follow.

Naomi Osaka, 2021 French Open

According to CNN, Osaka said before the tournament that press conferences were hurting her mental health, and she skipped one after her first-round win. The Grand Slam organisations fined her $15,000 for skipping the press conference, and she withdrew the following day, disclosing to the media that she’d experienced bouts of depression since the 2018 US Open. She was ranked number two in the world at the time, so stopping cost her a realistic shot at winning the title.

Simone Biles, 2020 Tokyo Olympics

According to CBS News, Biles left the team final after completing just a single vault, having lost her orientation in the air. She withdrew from later events, despite having qualified for all of them, returning on the last day of the competition to take bronze on the balance beam.

She explained to reporters that her physical and mental health came above any medal, and the withdrawal kept her from attempting twisting skills that she couldn’t reliably land, which at the top level is a serious injury risk.

Shawn Mendes, 2022 Wonder World Tour

Mendes postponed three weeks of shows in 2022, then cancelled the remaining North America, UK, and European tour dates. In total, 70 concerts booked into 2023 were cancelled after only seven had gone ahead. Touring is one of the biggest ways that performers make money after releasing an album, so cancelling an arena tour of this magnitude came at a serious cost.

Selena Gomez, 2016 Revival Tour

Gomez stopped touring in August 2016 and cancelled the remaining dates of the tour. She told the public that the following had been a problem:

• Anxiety
• Panic attacks
• Depression

All of these could be side effects of lupus, which she’d revealed about a year earlier. She described the break as proactive, stopping while she was still able to perform, which allowed her to treat her condition on her own terms.

Mental Health Awareness: What These Mental Health Breaks Have in Common

All four of these cases were mental health breaks at a career peak, and the decision certainly cost these celebrities. The key factor is that all four returned to work on their own schedule, which makes them success stories.

For people struggling to meet their obligations in everyday life, these cases demonstrate that sometimes it makes sense to take a step back and ask for help. Taylor Counseling Group therapists can help you to work through these difficulties and put protecting mental well-being first.

How Attitudes to Mental Health Have Changed

In conclusion, the attitude towards mental health has shifted as mental health awareness has grown, with many high-level performers taking a step back in recent years to focus on mental health.

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