Venus Williams has teamed up with BetterHelp, an online counseling service provider, to offer up to $3 million in free mental therapy in an effort to de-stigmatize mental health stigma. There is no disputing that people from all walks of life struggle with mental health difficulties.

However, the majority of them go untreated until they become too obvious to ignore. Normalizing mental health difficulties can be liberating, allowing you to advocate for your body.

Venus Williams discusses her mother’s viewpoint on mental health

In recent years, the mental health of athletes and high-profile personalities has come under the lens as stars like Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios opened up about their battles. Now, in an effort to normalize mental health and provide adequate care to the people suffering from this silent killer, Venus Williams has taken a significant step. She credits her mother, Oracene Price, with inspiring her to be a part of this noble cause.

In an interview with PEOPLE, Williams said, “My mom always told us that you have to work on your mental strength. That was her theory of raising kids… You also have to help them mentally be ready and prepared. “

She went on to state that she is “really grateful” to her mother for teaching her and her siblings the importance of caring for their emotional well-being. The American tennis star has always placed equal value on both physical and emotional health.

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About her collaboration with the company, the 7-time Grand Slam champion said, “I’m so excited to be a part of that and to literally give away opportunities for people to work on and improve their mental health.”

Venus’ association with BetterHelp

This is not the tennis player’s first time working with BetterHelp. Venus Williams has been with the brand since 2021, and this is part of their ongoing collaboration. Aside from that, the 42-year-old isn’t the only one who’s working with the firm as a partner. Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz, two other tennis players, are also an integral part of this initiative.

While sharing her opinions on this project on Instagram, the tennis legend provided all the information regarding signing up on the company’s website. Williams went on to say, “No one is immune to mental health difficulties, regardless of our history or how we appear to be doing from the outside.”

When talking about tennis, she stated that the game is much more than simply athletic talent, and that it requires mental stability to show up and put in the effort.

Other than Venus Williams, four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka has spoken up about mental health difficulties after withdrawing from the French Open last year.

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