Motte’s Courage Inspires NHL’s Mental Health Awareness
Mental illness is an epidemic. There’s really no other way to describe it. One in four people in the world suffer from a mental illness, if you don’t, perhaps a family member, significant other, friend, coworker or anybody around you may be. Having a mental illness has been stigmatized for way too long. It’s time to end the stigma and make everybody aware of this problem that is causing so many people pain.
“In sports and hockey, there is this mindset that we’ve come to adapt to, where it’s all about being mentally strong and not showing weakness.”
Tyler Motte, a forward for the Vancouver Canucks hockey team in the National Hockey League said during a video released on the team’s social media pages on January 15th.
Sharing a story as personal as this is not an easy thing to do. @Tmotte_14 knows that.
He also knows that by opening up about his struggles, it will help others realize they’re not alone. #HockeyTalks pic.twitter.com/IHUASCPYzZ
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) January 15, 2020
You are not alone
As someone who has been diagnosed with anxiety and depression, I know this video helped me realize that I’m not alone, and that someone I’ve looked up to is suffering from some of the same illnesses that I’ve suffered, and am still suffering right now. Mental illness isn’t a weakness, it’s a battle scar. Tyler Motte opening up not only to us the fans, but to his teammates is such a courageous thing to do, and it paves the way for other athletes and people to speak out against the stigma and seek help.
In the 2011 NHL offseason, three NHL players committed suicide. Rick Rypien, Derek Boogard and Wade Belak all tragically lost their lives due to this serious epidemic. Depression is not something that should be taken lightly, and these three men all suffered from it- ultimately costing them their lives.
Suicide is not the answer. It is never the answer. Even when you feel like it’s your darkest hour, there is always somebody there to listen to you, to comfort you and to help you through your tough times.
It doesn’t matter who you are, you do not deserve to go through this, and it is always better to reach out to someone. If you click on my name below, it will lead to my Facebook. If you need to talk to someone you are more than welcome to reach out to me and I will do whatever I can to help with anything you need. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also a resource that can help. This is not going to last forever unless you let it. You have to go through the bad times to get to the good ones.
“The human capacity for burden is like bamboo- far more flexible than you’d ever believe at first glance.”
-Jodi Picoult