Jelena Dokic shares a powerful mental health message as former tennis star urges those struggling to deal with ’emotional pain’ to speak out

Jelena Dokic has shone a light on the importance of not ‘hiding emotional pain’ in an emotional social media post, in which she urged her followers to not be afraid of discussing mental health struggles.

The Australian has long been open about her struggles with depressing, social media abuse, body shaming and the family violence she suffered throughout her career.

On Tuesday, the 40-year-old shared a teary picture of herself on Instagram, explaining she felt it was important to talk about mental health. 

Dokic reassured her followers she was ‘OK’, before revealing she got ‘overwhelmed and sad’ before calling a friend for help.

‘I thought it was important to talk about it in the hope that it might help someone out there who might be going through a tough time,’ she wrote.

Jelena Dokic has shone a light on the importance of not ‘hiding emotional pain’ in an emotional social media post

‘Know it’s ok to say that you are not ok and to let it all out and cry. Openly.

‘So this is my message to you if you are struggling, healing or dealing with trauma. Never be embarrassed to struggle.’

The former Wimbledon semi-finalist then added there was no shame in ‘healing from your trauma, crying’ nor ‘asking for help’ or ‘getting help’ and ‘no shame in saying you are struggling out loud.’

She added: ‘Emotional pain is not something that should be hidden, swept under the rug and never spoken about.

‘There is truth, growth, healing, strength, courage and bravery in your pain but only if it is shared and brought into the open.

‘So, don’t let you heart scream in pain in silence. Let it out, it will be easier and a huge weight will lift off your shoulders if you say it out loud.

‘No shame, stigma or embarrassment. Just pure honesty, rawness and openness.’

In April, Dokic opened up on the ‘sad reality’ of domestic abuse after posting heartbreaking photos of the violence she suffered as a young tennis player.

In her book, Unbreakable, Dokic revealed that her father inflicted regular beatings with a belt or a hard-capped boot, and she was once knocked unconscious by him. 

The former world No4 posted images of herself at 17 with bruised legs on Instagram, saying she is ‘sad and angry’ about the countless number of women suffering abuse. 

Dokic had previously shared the ‘sad reality’ of domestic abuse she suffered at the hands of her father when she was just 17 years of age

The former tennis star has long been forthcoming about her struggles with depression, social media abuse, body shaming

In her Instagram post on Tuesday, the former tennis star wrote: ‘there is no greater suffering than carrying an untold story or pain.’

She then urged her followers not be ‘ashamed or embarrassed to share your story and speak up.’

‘Those that judge or shame people that share their stories are the ones that should be ashamed and embarrassed,’ she wrote.

So let it out, share your story with your close ones and most importantly get help if you feel like you need it.’