Simone Biles withdrew from Olympic competition for mental health reasons and was widely praised for it, signaling a shift in how people view mental health support. Older generations like the Silent Generation typically suppressed these conversations, turning to silence or alcohol instead. The speakers argue that open talk about mental health prevents harm.
Simone Biles, one of the most accomplished Olympians of all time, I think by the general public is applauded for bowing out of some of the competition in the prior Olympics for mental health. She was so recognized. She was at and continues to be at the pinnacle of success. And in that moment she says, I can't do this right now. My perception is the world applauded her. They said, my God, thank you.
I do feel like the stigma is rolling back just a little bit that people had about others seeking mental health help.
My wife and I were talking about the Greatest Generation, which I think your parents were just on the cusp of that. My parents too. My dad was in World War II, and that was kind of the time frame. My mother was in Germany when they were getting bombed in World War II. I heard a different term for them, not the Greatest Generation, but the Silent Generation.
That was mental health back in the day.
Shut it down, shut up, and if you got to drink it away. I think that's been a huge development for humanity, is we gotta talk about this and let the steam out, because otherwise you're going to harm yourself or harm others.
Yeah, absolutely.
