Mental Health is a real problem and for far too long we as a society have turned our back on people with mental health issues and just labeled them as "weird" or "unfit." This hits home to me as I have a sister with significant mental health issues. That said, I think these athletes are abusing and undermining real mental health challenges for their discomfort in competition or displeasure in their position on their teams etc. Aaron Rodgers basically packed up after the season and burned the organization down while citing mental health on the way out the door, nevermind the organization is bending over backwards to get him what he wants and pay him literal top dollar. This is manifesting itself everywhere now, tennis, athletes required to speak to the press after losses are not showing up, citing "mental health." I can't help but think that these people are conflating actual responsibility with personal rights or "living their truth". Kyrie Irving just takes weeks off the NBA season every year to get his "mind right." These people get paid handsomely and receive unbelievable notoriety and celebrity....I'm sorry, part of the deal is that you are available and able to perform consistently and to expectation when the lights are the brightest. In my mind, that IS the definition of an Olympic athlete or a professional athlete. You handle more stress, in high pressure situation, and perform exceedingly well in those moments. The rest of us don't have the talent....sure, but we also don't have the toughness. What is the old expression....."the best ability is availability."
Can you imagine back in the 80's an NFL player walking into Bill Parcells office and saying he needed to "work on his mental health, take time to himself?" Parcells would have his ass cut that day. Now, many will say these affirming coaches and sensitive organizations represent progress and....maybe, but are we coddling our society, in particular young millennials now(for which I am one)? As fast as the individual players cite mental health, the leagues and the organizations rush to put out PR platitudes about " bravery, support, and acceptance" of these athletes. We are on a very slippery slope and I see it in my place of business too. Everyone must be "Affirming" or risk the cancel mob or worse, lawsuits. Mental health should be taken seriously, but multi-millionaire athletes referencing it while subverting their responsibilities is becoming bracingly common. If the leagues themselves and Olympic sports are truly consequential on people's mental health, than maybe we need to have a different conversation about competition and entertainment in general?