Lessons from Paris

A gold medallist at 16, the most decorated woman in her sport, Simone Biles is also a leader in the field of mental health.

In 2020, she withdrew from the Tokyo Games saying:

“We have to protect our mind and our body, rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do.”

In Paris, this Summer, she became the first American woman to win two Olympic all-round and vaulting titles- proving that comebacks are possible if you put your mental health first.

In other news this Summer, NHS figures revealed that more than 500 young people are being referred to mental health services every day- more than double the pre-pandemic figure. Days after the publication of these figures, a Children’s Society report revealed that low levels of life satisfaction are at least twice as high among UK 15-year-olds as other European peers.

The Simone Biles story shows us that prioritising mental health offers the opportunity for spectacular comebacks. We await the fulfilment of Labour’s election promises to:

• Provide mental health support for children in schools

• Cut waiting lists for children

• Boost preventative mental health services.

As a new school year gets underway, parents, teachers, children and young people need certainty that help is at hand. Thousands of highly trained therapists are ready to help- many of them with profiles in our free-to-access directory