Mental health matters: How the USTA is working to advocate for wellness in tennis and beyond

Mental health is important for a variety of reasons. Among them, mental health disorders can lead to considerable illness, even death.

Mental health disorders predict physical injuries. Physical injuries can be associated with mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety, and these disorders can prolong healing. Disordered sleeping predicts musculoskeletal injuries more than overtraining. And mental health disorders lead to poor performance—both on and off the court.

As the world’s healthiest sport, tennis has a responsibility to lead the industry in advocating for mental health resources and de-stigmatizing mental illness. And that’s why the USTA will be at the forefront of this effort, showing the tennis community and society at large that mental health matters. It is far too important a subject to simply watch from the sidelines.

Osaka and Phelps have been vocal about their struggles with mental health as elite athletes, and are advocates for the cause. They shared their stories with a full room of media, and Phelps even said that asking for help when he needed it saved his life—he didn’t need to suffer alone just because he was an Olympic champion.

Hainline is particularly passionate about mental health and the idea of sport as a public good. He hopes to set an example for society that mental health matters, and to eradicate the existing stigma of seeking mental healthcare on and off the court.

The USTA president also hearkened back to a hero of his, Nelson Mandela, who once said that sport has the power to change the world. He added to the sentiment, saying that sports have a responsibility to make a positive impact on society.

The campaign is a series of public service announcements featuring some of the nation’s top athletes sharing ways in which they take care of themselves, in the hopes of encouraging sports fans to prioritize their mental health and explore free resources from LoveYourMindToday.org. The PSAs will run nationwide, while the leagues and governing bodies—including the USTA—will support the campaign through 2024 and beyond via their social media platforms and owned media channels.

American tennis star Madison Keys is one of the athletes contributing to the campaign, joining Brandon Lowe of the Tampa Bay Rays, Kyle Kuzma of the Washington Wizards, Cam Heyward of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Zach Hyman of the Edmonton Oilers, Lexie Brown of the L.A. Sparks and more. Keys is hopeful that seeing athletes talk about the importance of mental health and how they take care of themselves will spark crucial conversations around the country.

Elliott Pettit, senior director of retention and brand at the USTA, said that getting all of these leagues and governing bodies—along with the stars of their sports—to support this initiative in order to destigmatize mental health is a huge feat that speaks to the urgency and significance of the mental health crisis in the U.S., and allows others to understand that it’s okay not to be okay. 

“This is one of those causes in which the more you're able to see the icons of your sport talking about something that's important to you, the easier it is for you to begin to normalize [mental health] with yourself and those around you. Having the stars participate in this way really humanizes them and brings the issue itself home to people,” Pettit said.

Hainline echoed that statement, emphasizing the ability of household names to lessen the stigma associated with seeking mental health care or acknowledging mental health struggles.

Participating in this campaign gives the USTA and its athletes a platform to deepen our commitment to use tennis to inspire healthier people and communities around the country.

“Love, Your Mind” offers education and resources, and partnering with the Ad Council, Huntsman Mental Health Institute and other sports leaders help us provide meaningful solutions for an issue that the USTA cares about, while spreading awareness to a larger audience.

“It doesn't matter if you're playing in Arthur Ashe Stadium or you're playing in your local park, tennis provides such an opportunity for not only the physical health benefits, but the mental health benefits,” Pettit said. “It's so many things to so many different people. And if it provides just a bit of relief from the pressures or the struggles that somebody is facing right now, then the sport has done its job and then some.”