Naomi Osaka, Michael Phelps join US Open forum on mental health & sports
>>> TWO-TIME U.S. OPEN CHAMPION NAOMI OSAKA WAS BACK AT THE OPEN, BUT NOT AS A PLAYER. >> SHE JOINED A PANEL FOR MENTAL HEALTH IN SPORTS. STEVE OVERMYER WAS THERE. >> Reporter: WHEN NAOMI OSAKA STEPPED BACK, SHE STEPPED UP FOR FELLOW ATHLETES. >> FOR ME, COMING BACK HERE, IT MEANS A LOT. THERE WERE SOME TEARS SHED. >> Reporter: SHE IS NOT PLAYING THIS YEAR BUT SHE IS AT THE U.S. OPEN FOR A DISCUSSION ON MENTAL HEALTH ALONG WITH OLYMPIAN MICHAEL PHELPS AND SURGEON GENERAL VIVEK MURTHY. >> WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
ARE SUFFERING IN SILENCE. I THINK WE CAN DO A LOT MORE IN TERMS OF IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AND SHIFTING THE CULTURE TO BE MORE OPEN ABOUT IT AS WELL. >> Reporter: THEY HAVE FLIPPED THE NARRATIVE OF THE UNFLAPPABLE ATHLETE IN FAVOR OF A MORE HUMAN APPEARANCE. >> EVERYONE IS UNIQUE IN THIS WORLD AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NOBODY CAN TAKE AWAY. I DON’T WANT TO BE CORNY, BUT YOU JUST HAVE TO APPRECIATE THAT AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE SPECIAL. I DON’T THINK PEOPLE SAY THAT ENOUGH. >> Reporter: OSAKA STARTED A CONVERSATION THAT EXTENDED
BEYOND TENNIS AND INTO OUR DAILY LIVES, THAT PRIORITIZING MENTAL HEALTH IS NOT JUST OKAY BUT NECESSARY. IN FLUSHING MEADOWS, STEVE OVERMYER, CBS 2 NEWS. >>
