If Olympic gymnast Simone Biles could prioritize her mental health with the world watching, then you, too, can put your mental health first.

When Biles withdrew from the women’s team final and later the individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympics last week, she signaled to viewers everywhere — including those in Butler County — that it's indeed “OK to not be OK.”

Though some took to social media to bash the gymnast, who has been called the greatest of all time, many responded positively, supporting the athlete for her bravery.

“They have put so much pressure on her,” one reader wrote in the Facebook comments of a Butler Eagle post.

Another pointed to the mental component of gymnastics.

“This sport is so mental and it leaves no gymnast untouched even the GOAT (greatest of all time). Prayers and love to the amazing Biles,” the reader wrote.

Biles had reported a case of the “twisties,” a condition where a gymnast loses track of their location mid-air, during a morning practice. There was real potential of physical harm for Biles should she have continued.

But “twisties” aside, mental health alone was reason enough to step back from the competition. If she didn’t feel OK to compete, then she still would have risked her health and well-being to have gone forward.

The messages these readers shared in the Butler Eagle’s comment section of Facebook represent a positive reaction to someone’s decision to prioritize mental health.

This of course is countered with reactions, such as that of Texas deputy attorney Aaron Reitz, who called Biles a “national embarrassment,” before later apologizing.

Reitz exemplified the opposite of what should be done in this scenario.

Though lockdowns and quarantining, we hope, are in the rearview mirror, effects on mental health linger.

In a July 21 article within the Butler Eagle’s Summer Health & Fitness section, area counselors expressed that many are still feeling “a little off.”

Grief counselor Cynthia Marshal said that many are still “working on their tempo” and are not yet “up to speed.”

She went on to offer some advice that perhaps everyone needs to hear: Just be kind.

When someone chooses to prioritize their mental health, be kind. When it’s Biles, be kind. When it’s your friend, be kind. Whether it’s your neighbor, coworker or anyone for that matter, a little understanding can go a long way.

Perhaps then we can get to a place where one need not be “brave” to do what is healthiest for themselves.

— TAL