Deciding to take time off of work isn’t easy. Taking a leave of absence for mental health reasons is even harder.
Making the choice to step back for your mental wellbeing when you happen to be the youngest member of Britain’s Parliament? That’s an especially bold and brave decision.
In late May, 24-year-old Nadia Whittome shared that she had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. She announced that she was taking several weeks off as advised by her doctor.
“Through being open about my own mental health struggle, I hope that others will also feel able to talk about theirs, and that I can play a small role in creating greater acceptance and facilitating healthier discussions around this issue,” she wrote on her website.
Days later, tennis star Naomi Osaka announced she was withdrawing from the French Open after refusing to speak with the media. Osaka revealed she had “suffered long bouts of depression” since winning her first Grand Slam title in 2018.
