Mental health. It's a topic these athletes say, is more
important than any metal and one that will take
strength far beyond the physical kind to address with
the the winter olympics this year. My hope is that
mental health is still at the forefront of the
conversation. It's a conversation that many athletes
will tell you hasn't always been an easy one. It's hard
to talk about. It's hard to talk about our own
struggles. It's hard to talk about things that we feel
shame around or or that we were led to believe that
we're supposed to deal with on our own. That struggle
was on full display during the summer olympics last
year, when gymnast Simone biles withdrew from
competition because of her mental health, a pivotal
moment. Winter athletes say shouldn't be left to fall
to the wayside. We need to talk about real stories, we
need to talk about real human experience and that's why
I just pull no punches and and share as openly as I do.
Drew Peterson is a professional big mountain skier
turned advocate for mental health, a journey that he
says began with his own struggles in 2017, a lot of
people have seen me in ski films and and then ski
magazines, but what that leaves out is a massive part
of the human experience. So I think that it's important
to to show people that it's uh it's not all unicorns
and rainbows out there. So, and his newly released film
ups and downs. Peterson turns the camera inward to
reflect on his own journey That includes everythin
from PTSD to depression, type two bipolar disorder and
suicidal thoughts rather than any lines he has skied
this film is a raw and vulnerable look at the enti
process and the entire journey and I wanted to make
sure that it ended by making it clear that this is a
lifelong journey. His goal helping winter sports catch
up on the conversation of mental health. We need to get
to a point where health is talked about with the
physical and mental sides being an equal component,
former olympic figure skater and bronze medalist,
Gracie Gold agrees if Simona withdrawn from an injury
nobody would have said, oh yeah like let me see that X
ray, like you put that x ray on twitter for all of us
to see so we can determine if you withdrawing fr
injury is valid. Gold says much of that stems from
society being uncomfortable with what mental health
struggles can look like. She says. That was made very
clear to her when she announced her own battle in 201
I was advised by some powers at be to not put suicidal
ideation in my first release, because um. and to put
anxiety instead depression, anxiety and disordered
eating, because anxiety was more palatable to make
other people comfortable following that announcement.
Gold says she embarked on a journey to recovery that
included time at a treatment center and in therapy, it
really changed my life in so many ways because I got
the help that I needed and although I missed out on,
You know, the 2018 um Olympics you know, in so many
ways though it changed my life because I'm still here
an experience. She says she's all the more grateful for
when she's told her story resonates with someone. I
really does prove that you are never alone in that
especially within your struggle there can be unity and
a community innit validation, Peterson says, conf
that he and athletes like gold are making the right
move by opening up. The response has been so
overwhelming and also so invigorating and affirming
that this problem is so widespread that this
conversation needs to keep happening as the Winter
Games get underway, officials with team usa say
athletes will have access to counseling, group therapy
and hotlines for their mental health. A move athletes
say, is a step in the right direction. I believe
if we do that, we will create a culture that will save
lives and will enrich everyone's life. Both athletes
say they're hopeful that ensuring their stories, others
will feel safe in speaking up and reaching out