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One of the most under-discussed topics in the media has been mental health issues that affect thousands of people in the United States.
This includes many professional athletes from both the current and past generations. Among of those is Hall of Famer and current consultant for the L.A. Clippers Jerry West, who recently talked about his own personal battles with mental health in an interview with USA TODAY Sports.
NBA legend Jerry West has struggled for decades with dark bouts of depression and low self-esteem. Sometimes people tell him he’s brave for speaking openly about it. He says that’s not courageous so much as honest.
“Some people hide their pain,” West says. “I’m not proud of the fact that I don’t feel good about myself a lot of the time, but it’s nothing I’m ashamed of.”
It's quite a serious matter and takes a lot of courage for West and other athletes such as Olympic Gold medalist Michael Phelps and New York Giants wide receiver Brandon Marshall to talk about it. These are everyday issues for them that they have learned to deal with and want to share their stories to help others.
More importantly, this helps bring more light to the subject matter and gives it more relevance in the public eye because it's something that is more common than many believe it is. The fact that these athletes have come out to speak about should only give more credence to that stance.
As for Jerry West, it is quite an admirable thing to do to talk about something quite personal that makes him feel vulnerable. And it is something he deserves more respect for as a person rather than from being a former great basketball.
