"I wish I had utilized it more as a kid": Osaka plans to pass on mental health tips with course of meditations for children

Former World No.1 Naomi Osaka has been an advocate for mental health awareness, and has set out to enable the younger generation connect with various mental health resources.

The Japanese superstar has had her struggles with mental health, which included her withdrawing from the French Open and Wimbledon. This led her to realize the value of dissolving the stigma around seeking help, as well as using mediation as a form of therapy.

Osaka has teamed up with Modern Health to put together a collection of children’s meditations.

“As I’ve gotten older, I have really relied more on meditation to help manage my feelings. I wish that I had utilized it more as a kid which is why I’m so excited to have children’s meditations available now kids of all ages,” she told PEOPLE.

“I love that I am able to help create resources for kids that weren’t available or common when I was a kid. I hope that kids are able to learn how to manage their feelings and emotions at an early age so that they can continue to use these tools later in life.”

The four-time Grand Slam champion opened up about her struggles with mental health, and this has been an inspiration to thousands of fans around the world.

“It’s always really heartwarming when people tell me that I have helped them with their own struggles. I remember being in a grocery store one time and someone stopped me to tell me how much I meant to them as they were dealing with their own mental health struggles,” she shares. “At the time, I was doing it for myself but I realized that my decision to help myself was also helping many others.”