To mark Mental Health Awareness Month this May, Tennis Canada is publishing a series of articles written by the Ambassadors of the Mental Timeout initiative supported by Beneva. To kick off the series, Canada’s top-ranked wheelchair tennis athlete and Paralympian Rob Shaw offers his perspective on mental health in sport through the lens of the ‘Support’ pillar of Tennis Canada’s Mental Health Strategy.
When I was asked to write this piece for Tennis Canada, it got me thinking… As an athlete, I would never consider skipping a practice or gym session, and yet taking time to regularly work on mental health is still considered somewhat taboo.
With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, I see this as an opportunity to remind people that mental health is not something that can be put in the closet and brought out at certain times of the year. It’s an everyday topic and one that we need to continue to normalize to create safe spaces for conversation.
In that spirit, I don’t mind sharing that my mental health is in flux at the moment. I find myself constantly working to keep a positive outlook but, like everyone, there are circumstances in both my personal and sporting life that tend to drag it towards the negative end of the spectrum.
I’m incredibly passionate about my career as a wheelchair tennis player. I’ve represented my country at Paralympic Games, including Paris 2024, and won medals at the Parapan Am Games too. However, I sometimes struggle to identify where I sit within the wider competitive landscape. Players are getting bigger, stronger and more functional, which leaves those of us with more severe disabilities at an impasse.
Away from the court, I find it hard being so far away from my family. I moved across the country over eight years ago and have watched my siblings, nieces and nephews grow up from a distance. The current economy makes it challenging for me to move back home, and the distance has worn on my mental health. These circumstances force me to find new ways to stay positive and focus on the things that are within my control.
Read also: Rob Shaw on the Intricacies of Wheelchair Tennis and Tour Favourites
I have been very fortunate to be part of the Mental Health Leadership group at Tennis Canada and I am extremely proud of the work we have accomplished over the last year. I really believe that Tennis Canada is leading the way in the mental health space not just for tennis, but for all sports. I love that we are sharing both the positive and negative sides of mental health through athlete stories, as I think vulnerability can be very relatable. It shows how important this kind of support can be.
For example, most people would probably assume that my low points have come after big losses, like the gold medal match at the 2023 Parapan Am Games. Surprisingly, these situations did not trigger my most difficult struggles.
I’ve had to manage very challenging moments in my personal life that have impacted my mental health more than anything tennis related. I had two close friends pass away suddenly in the lead up to the 2020 Paralympics and the 2023 Parapan Am Games. This was incredibly challenging for me to cope with, and I made sure to seek professional help.
I also relied on friends and family for emotional support, but I made sure to make use of the mental health professionals around me when I needed to. I think that’s important for athletes to understand when it’s okay to lean on family, friends, trainers and coaches, versus when professional help is required. Sometimes it’s not easy to identify, but it’s a necessary reflex that you need to develop.
Whether it’s after big victories or defeats, these people are my first port of call for support. I’d advise all athletes to create a stable and dependable support system early in your career before you start to travel full-time. Having these people in place could save you from big mental health spirals.
It’s also important not to overtax your support system. Having an honest group around you that is comfortable to say when you are leaning on them too much can be a real blessing, as it affords you the opportunity to seek help and support from different areas.
To learn more about the Mental Timeout initiative supported by Beneva, Tennis Canada’s wider Mental Health Strategy and how you can access resources and support, click here.
