Venus Williams partners WTA in mental health initiative worth millions
Venus Williams wants to give more people the chance to be proactive about their mental health via a joint enterprise with the WTA.
The seven-time singles Slam champion and 23-time Major winner has shown more than a little resilience and fortitude across her ore than 25-year professional career.
Both physically and mentally she was well prepared by her mother and father, Oracene Price and Richard Williams.
“My parents were big proponents of mental health,” Venus Williams describes.
“Not just self-care, but proactivity. It was about realising that the world is a beautiful place, but it’s also a challenging place, and that you have to prepare mentally to be able to handle the pressures.
“I was able to succeed in places where others [didn’t] because I had that support from a young age.”
Now, the 41-year-old legend is partnering with the WTA and therapy platform Better Help to provide $2 million in free therapy.
The initiative will offer 1 month of free therapy per individual to anyone who wants it.
“There are no barriers,” says Venus. “You just need a phone or a laptop and access to the Internet.
“For me, mental health means being in a place where you have that peace of mind, that happiness, that sense of being free, of having the ability to dream big and go for it.
Nowadays, Venus is happy to see people more openly discussing mental health, as well as how people go about seeking professional help.
“People are talking to each other about their therapists. And not just in person, on social media, too. I love that this next generation can have the opportunity to be proactive and take care of their mental health.”
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