The Power of Black Mental Health: Simone Biles' Journey to Healing

Simone Biles, the renowned gymnast, has been open about her struggles with mental health, and her story is a powerful reminder of the importance of prioritizing our well-being. As someone who has been in the public eye for most of her life, Biles has faced immense pressure to perform at an elite level, which has taken a toll on her mental health. In her recently released Netflix docuseries, Simone Biles Rising, she shares her struggles with "the twisties," a psychological stumbling block that caused her to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics' team finals. But Biles' journey to healing didn't begin with her withdrawal from the Olympics. She had been struggling with mental health issues for years, and it wasn't until she started incorporating daily therapy sessions into her routine that she began to feel like herself again. As she shared with Making Space With Hoda Kotb, "I feel a lot more free. . . I think, before, I was pushing down my trauma, and now I've learned to speak on it and kind of release that. So that's really helped me, and that's why I'm doing what I'm doing today. " Biles' story is a testament to the importance of prioritizing mental health, especially for African Americans, who face unique barriers to accessing care. According to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, only 39% of Black and African Americans with mental health concerns received mental health services, compared to 52% of non-Hispanic Whites. This disparity is even more stark when it comes to suicide rates, with a 58% increase between 2011 and 2021 among Black and African American populations. But Biles' story is not just about her own struggles with mental health. It's also about the power of speaking out and breaking the stigma surrounding mental illness, especially for African Americans. By sharing her story, Biles is helping to create a culture where it's okay to talk about mental health, where people of color can feel seen and heard, and where we can all prioritize our well-being.