May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Throughout the Month, you will be hearing stories each Tuesday from professional athletes who have struggled with mental health and overcome their challenges..
NBA All-Star Demar DeRozan
One would expect that in the midst of another strong year and a return back to Los Angeles for the NBA All Star game, Derozan would be in high spirits.
But you couldn't be more wrong.
A perennial All Star, averaging 21 PPG in 14 seasons, Derozan had been suppressing his emotions ever since early childhood–growing up in Compton, California, DeRozan had lost family members and friends to gang violence. Each day he walked into class, there was a possibility that another desk would be empty. His mom had always told him that tomorrow was never guaranteed.
As he finally hit it big, and the money and fame came in, he struggled more and more to find an outlet to get help.
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He continued to suppress his emotions–he was taught by his dad to never break.
But, then, one day in February 2018, DeRozan finally broke and took a leap of courage.
“This depression gets the best of me…” Derozan tweeted and finally got the weight off his shoulders. The results were imminent.
In the ensuing weeks, DeRozan received tons of positivity from fellow players and fans, and knew he was doing something good.
“You have a clearer mind, and you have a different type of stance of knowing yourself,” DeRozan said. “Not feeling like you're behind the curtain, it gives you a sense of freedom because so many people don't know how to let that out.”
DeRozan also brought his life experiences front and center through his unique tattoos, where he displays what he's overcome. Through the ink on his body, no longer afraid to suppress his emotions.
DeRozan's bravery and ability to have the hard conversations, inspired athletes all around sports, especially the NBA.
Introducing Kevin Love
NBA all-star Kevin Love drew inspiration from DeRozan to publicly come out and talk about his struggles with mental health. Love suffered a panic attack in November of 2017, mid-game on the bench of an NBA game. Afterward, Love issued a letter in The Players' Tribune, where he talked about his mental health and family issues, and what contributed to this, citing his own mental health issues.
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The former All Star credited DeRozan as one of the main reasons he felt comfortable coming forward and sharing his life experiences. Love believed that DeRozan's words had power, in the fact that people were able to see his vulnerable side and mental health struggles and relate, no longer feeling the same stigma.
“Mental health isn't just an athlete thing,” said Love. What you do for a living doesn't have to define who you are. This is an everyone thing.”
Love began doing therapy, meeting with someone a few times a month and the results paid off. He became a spokesperson for the NBA, sharing his experiences with other players, hoping to help them, the same way DeRozan inspired him to come forward. He was hoping to not only break the stigma, but at the same time, create a healthy environment for conversations regarding mental health.
The work of DeRozan and Love didn't just affect these two players.
It also changed and improved the way the NBA dealt with mental health.
Sparking Widespread Change
To help players with their mental health, the NBPA introduced the NBA Mind Health initiative, a program that makes sure to approach your mental wellness, just as you do with your physical health. It is of the same importance. NBA Mind Health is also aimed at creating dialogue around tackling the facade that fame and fortune immunize you from harsh realities.
Related: Strong Bodies, Strong Minds: The Importance of College Athlete Mental Health
On top of that, the league began working with teams, creating mental health efforts to help every organization, and get them the accessibilities they needed. As each season passed, it seemed like more NBA players were comfortable sharing their lived experiences.
In retrospect, DeRozan has become a pillar of hope in the month of May–most notably, Mental Health Awareness Month. DeRozan was the unintended original liaison between the NBA and mental health, and has continued to inspire athletes in recent years, to come forward announcing their struggles with mental health.
DeRozan has brought to the forefront a topic which was so taboo, that is now often talked about, and given inspiration to athletes from all spheres of the world, who now no longer feel the stigma to be vulnerable and struggle.
Whether it's DeRozan's story or not, there are important lessons to learn here.
One, it doesn't matter who you are, or what you do. No one is immune from mental health issues.
Two–and maybe most important–if you ever feel alone or are struggling, know you are not alone.
Mental health impacts so many around the world.
A 2019 study found that up to 35% of elite professional athletes struggle with a form of mental health.
In college athletes, up to 25% struggle with mental health, whether it be an eating disorder or depression.
It's okay to not be okay. Mental health matters–so do your story and feelings matter. Just ask Demar DeRozan and Kevin Love.
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Image Credit: Sporting News
* Originally published on May 2, 2023, by Nicholas Nathanson