The world watched in awe as Naomi Osaka, currently ranked No. 2 women’s tennis player by the World Tennis Association, withdrew from the French Open and Wimbledon because of her struggles with depression and anxiety.

Shortly thereafter decorated Olympic Gymnast, Simone Biles, made the painful public decision to withdraw from participating in several competitions at the Tokyo Olympics due to her safety and mental health. Imagine the strength it took for Naomi and Simone to surrender and publicly announce that taking care of themselves is more important than winning a medal or title. 

The message conveyed by their actions, not only resonated with the athletic community but the entire world. In the days following these announcements, mental health took center stage and became a topic of conversation across the world.

These events are a reminder that first and foremost we must take care of ourselves. As we continue to struggle with the effects of the pandemic, with some still in isolation from family, friends and public activities that make our community vibrant, our mental health and well-being is continually being challenged.

At Summit State Bank, we have been focused on caring for our employees, customers, and community during these difficult times and that emphasis will continue well into the future. We look forward to our lives returning to some semblance of normalcy and the ability for our community to get back on track and thrive. As we near the end-of-the year, which is often met with a flurry of “to do” lists and holiday activities, it is important to take note of our overall well-being. With that in mind, we offer the following suggestions: