Former Olympic star Michael Phelps opened up about his past struggles with anxiety and depression, tweeting Sunday at one point he “questioned whether or not [he] wanted to be alive anymore” before going on to say that therapy “helped save [his] life.”
“Did you know that one in four people around the world experience a mental health issue? I was one of them,” Phelps wrote. “That’s why I’ve teamed up with [Talkspace] this [Mental Health Awareness Month] –– to let you know that getting help is a sign of strength, not weakness.”
I struggled with anxiety and depression and questioned whether or not I wanted to be alive anymore. It was when I hit this low that I decided to reach out and ask for the help of a licensed therapist. This decision ultimately helped save my life. You don’t have to wait for things
— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) May 26, 2019
In another tweet, Phelps said he was teaming up with Talkspace for Mental Health Awareness Month “to let you know that getting help is a sign of strength, not weakness.”
Did you know that one in four people around the world experience a mental health issue? I was one of them. That’s why I’ve teamed up with @Talkspace this #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth –– to let you know that getting help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) May 26, 2019
The 23-time gold medalist has discussed the topic of mental health before.
“I can tell you I’ve probably had at least half a dozen depression spells that I’ve gone through,” he said in a 2017 interview with Today‘s Jordan Muto. “And the one in 2014, I didn’t want to be alive.”
Phelps was arrested in September 2014 for driving under the influence, and USA Swimming issued a six-month suspension as a result. Muto wrote Phelps “locked himself in his bedroom for four days” after the arrest and his suspension.
The 33-year-old told Muto he had finally reached a point at which he was ready to speak to others about his mental health.
Good for Phelps for continuing to promote mental health awareness.
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