Kenny McKinley
Jon Wertheim wrote a piece for Sports Illustrated last week about male athletes and depression. The recent suicide of Denver Broncos Kenny McKinley from a self-inflicted gunshot wound has created another opportunity to discuss mental illness among professional athletes. According to police reports, McKinley had hinted about suicide in the week leading up to his death after he was placed on the injured list following knee surgery. An investigator with the case reported, “He had made statements that he didn’t know what he would do if he could not play football and football was all he knew. He made statements while playing dominoes shortly after the surgery that he should just kill himself.”
According to the SI article, mental illness in professional sports is not always treated compassionately. NFL player Ricky Williams recalled his struggle with social anxiety disorder and the negative effects it had on his life. He wouldn’t take his helmet off when answering reporters questions. He wouldn’t go through a drive-thru because he would have to talk to someone. He wouldn’t answer his phone. He wouldn’t leave his house for days. When he confronted coach Jim Haslett about seeking treatment “Haslett used profanity to tell him, in so many words, “to stop being a baby and just play football.”
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Ricky Williams
Williams discussed the difference in the support he experienced from his team when the injury was physical versus mental. When he broke his ankle, everyone supported him and provided him constant attention and reassurance. Players text messaged him throughout the day to let him know everything would be ok. Coaches and trainers stopped to to talk and support him. However, when he needed help for social anxiety, no one would even talk to him about it. Players ignored him and coaches told him to get over it. Check out this NBC Sports article that recounts numerous suicides of athletes throughout the years.
So how do coaches and management view mental illness? Some are less than supportive. “Gutless” was the term Bobby Valentine, then the Mets manager, allegedly used to describe Pete Harnisch after the pitcher suffered a depressive episode. “Run it off,” an NBA coach once told Vin Baker when the player tried to explain his depression. “Don’t let the blues get you down!” Why do teammates find it so hard to comfort a friend when the injury or pain isn’t visible? Why do coaches and trainers ignore behaviors and statements that are unhealthy, disturbing or indicative of mental illness?
No player wants to be labeled a “head case” by the front office. However, professional athletes experiences many risk factors for depression and suicide (stress, head injuries and childhood trauma). However, according to the SI article, more athletes are willing to admit their struggles with mental illness. Jennifer Capriati, Joey Votto, Stephane Richer, Alex Rodriguez, and Ron Artest have recently discussed their experience of dealing with mental illness and it looks like that some teams and sports are more willing to provide the help their players need.
Zach Greinke
Pablo Torre wrote an incredible SI article about mental health in pro sports. He highlighted Royals pitcher Zack Greinke who missed most of the 2006 season to address his social anxiety disorder and clinical depression. Greinke returned after therapy and medication to win the Cy Young Award.
Torre’s article gives us a glimpse inside the mind of current Mariner’s pitcher Ian Snell. After yielding the game winning run while pitching for Pittsburgh and booed off the field, Snell struggled with thoughts of suicide after the game. Just do it already, and be at peace. Kill yourself. Get it over with, and you won’t have to deal with this anymore. Should I just do it? If a player messes up, why does everyone automatically think he’s a bad person? Do parents even want me to say hi to their kids and give them high fives? Why am I always being singled out? Is the world better without me?
Ian Snell
Ian didn’t kill himself. He called a friend and got the help he needed. In fact, in 2009 5 MLB players were placed on disabled list for emotional disorders, the first “mental DLs.” There are too many incidents and stories to recount here about athletes and mental illness. Although a handful have come forward, many still suffer in silence. I’ll end with the message Ian Snell gave a teammate who was struggling, “I just told him that we love him, we care about him, we need him. Everybody thinks he’s a bad guy. He’s not. He just has problems, like a normal person. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
For more information about men and depression, check out the Real Men. Real Depression campaign and brochure.
