Destanee Aiava says she feels empowered from all the support after attempt to take her own life

Destanee Aiava tried to take her own life last month. Now she is sharing her story to encourage others struggling with mental health.

Tennis player Destanee Aiava is buoyed by all the love and support. Picture: Tony Gough

Melbourne tennis ace Destanee Aiava has spoken of her determination to win a battle with mental health after revealing she tried to take her own life.

The four-time Australian Open competitor, who has been ranked as high as No. 147 in the world, said she had been overwhelmed by support after sharing details of her darkest days.

On her 22nd birthday, Melbourne-born Aiava made the devastating confession she “did not want to make it” and had gone to a bridge on Easter Sunday night with plans to jump.

But people driving by stopped the talented Pakenham player and drove her home.

Destanee Aiava is a four-time Australian Open competitor. Picture: Tony Gough

Now she wants to share her story, to encourage others struggling with mental health.

“I do feel a bit empowered from all the support that people have given me and being able to help others with my experience,’’ she told the Herald Sun.

“I generally share a lot about my life and it’s not nice to hear anyone going through that but it normalises it more.

“People shouldn’t be scared to talk about mental health, it’s so important.”

Aiava, who will head to the US next month to compete, said her Samoan heritage had previously made it difficult to openly discuss mental health.

“It gets bottled up inside and it’s really unhealthy,’’ she said.

“It wasn’t a taboo thing for me, especially in my generation, it is a topic that shouldn’t be dismissed.

“I’m a pretty private person even with my family so when they did hear about it they were pretty sad for me.”

Aiava, who sits at No. 265 in the WTA rankings, said Tennis Australia has reached out to offer support.

Aiava says people shouldn’t be scared to talk about mental health. Picture: Tony Gough

In her Instagram post, she wrote: “I did not want to make it to my 22nd birthday, but I know my family and friends would be happy to know I’m alive on this day that’s meant to be special.

“Sometimes people you come across in life can make you feel that you’re unworthy of being loved, but at the end of the day I’ve learnt, ‘God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength but with your testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it’.”

She wanted to thank “everyone who’s reached out and sent love or shared a personal story with me’’.

“I hope I can help someone else if they’ve ever felt the same,’’ she said.

Aiava was identified as a 16 year-old in 2017 when she was added to the Kooyong Classic field.

She said her idol was Serena Williams who she described as “empowering”.

After winning more than $783,000 in career prizemoney to date, she said she treated tennis like any job.

“It’s work for me but I do it because it’s my escape from normal life and I do enjoy the hard work of it and the competitive side,’’ she said.

“I’m taking charge of it myself.”