You Are Not Alone. A Look At Athletes and Depression in Sports
“I can’t lie and I can’t hide this: Every day’s a challenge, it’s a big challenge. Every time when I get out of bed, the first step when I touch the floor, I say ‘Riche, today make sure you’re strong. You can’t be soft. You’ve got a beautiful wife. A lot of people around you love you. You have to be there. You have to be strong.’” (Stephane Richer NHL player)
(http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/667501--star-athletes-bare-souls-in-depression-documentary )
Now, I know that many of you have become familiar with my articles, honesty and focus of addressing personal thoughts and ideas regarding the fitness industry and gym culture. However, this time I am going to step away from that and look at a topic, not many want to address or understand, yet has become more main stream with athletes of all sport disciplines, due to the unfortunate and tragic deaths of several these last few years.
“I’m here today because I chose to fight, I chose to live, and I thank you for not ‘shutting up’ that day."
(http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/667501--star-athletes-bare-souls-in-depres
sion-documentary )
I also felt it would be a topic to not shy away from, since there may be someone we know or even ourselves, struggling with the daily painful dealings of depression, which is termed as a mental health disorder that affects the physical and psychological well-being of an individual.
On February 12 2013, Canada marked the 3rd annual Bell Canada Let's Talk Day which was created to bring awareness to mental health and mental illnesses/depression. All proceeds raised go to research and support services in Canada. The campaign features Canadian Olympian, of the Summer and Winter games, Clara Hughes, along with a few other Canadian personalities, who have become the faces and voices for this campaign because of their personal connection and/or struggles to the topic.
Probably one of the most well known faces to this campaign is that of Clara Hughes. She like so many athletes, knew that something was wrong with how they were feeling and what their head space felt like, but did not know how to go about seeking the help or talking to someone about it, because of the stigma attached to mental illness and depression.
Clara Hughes, is now retired, but over her career did what many athletes can only dream of – she competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympics and won several medals in both sports. She became such a role model and inspiration for so many, yet when it was all said and done, her depression set in:
“Sport that consumed me for over two decades . . . is now gone. Now it’s just me. No pressure, no expectations, no need to be fast, good, strong or to even improve. Yet I can’t let go of this idea that I always need to be more than I am. And it is eating me alive.”— Clara Hughes, in a January 2013 blog post
It was here that I basically got the idea. It seems that many believe that athletes are somehow immune to depression or struggles based simply on the fact that they are to be physically and mentally fit and tough, live a lavish lifestyle, play a sport that many dream of playing as a career and make a ton of money. Now how can anyone be upset or sad about all of that? But that is just it. Fans or followers of a sport/athlete do not seem to see or understand all that is involved to be a professional a
thlete and the sacrifices that must be made to succeed. No one seems to see all of the hard work, training and dedication that are put into the sport either. What most fans see...highly paid, fit, healthy, strong super heroes. You know what though? This modern super hero is human, and mental illness, such as depression among them is something that needs to be shared and talked about so that it is not a challenge for them to seek the help they need.
Far too many have succumb to the effects of depression and I for one, am not ready to read about more.
Like the average person who is faced with depression, there is no real understanding of a set cause or circumstance that brought it out. It could be low self esteem, pressure, feeling insecure etc. But, lately what researchers and those who work with athletes are seeing is that, “high pressure sporting events, personal and team expectations and individual disposition may increase bouts of depression in susceptible athletes.” (http://www.livestrong.com/article/84436-depression-athletes/)
As well, “athletes may however be more inclined to mask their symptoms out of fear of disappointing parents, coaches, teammates and fans.”
(http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/news?slug=ycn-)
Athletes go through extreme preparations, multiple daily practices and juggling/managing life to meet the sport's expectations. All of this often dominates their personal life. When the game or event is over for the season or done for good because of an injury or retirement, an athlete may lose their sense of purpose, and face difficulty getting back into a non-sport focused routine. This somewhat small step for some, can lead an athlete to experience depression if not prepared and many are afraid to report or seek the help they need.
But how do we do this and make it known to them that the help is out there and there are people willing and wanting to help...also to realize that they are not alone in this? I like many do not have a simple answer or solution. Maybe through writing about it like I am, or talking about it openly to help remove the stigma attached to depression, and have special training for coaches and trainers and all other persons attached to a sport and/or athlete that teaches them signs to look out for, ways of communicating with their athletes and team on the topic and having more frequent check ins with them to talk about how they are feeling could be a start. Another idea could be to have a sort of lifestyle class offered for those who are planning to retire from their sport on how to cope with all of the overwhelming feelings and emotions that will set in once the sport and training life they have lived for so long comes to an end, so that down the road, they do not feel alone. A start of possibilities and suggestions to think about...
This is such a deep and complex topic and subject matter that needs more than just an article or discussion to address or bring focus to it, but it is a start. There has to be that part laid in order for the communication and awareness to be brought to the fore front to those that work with athletes and the media that covers sport. One thing that everyone has to realize is that no athlete is immune and no sport is either. The highs and lows that comes with being an athlete, participating in a team or individual sport are similar, and when it is all said and done, we are 
all human. Depression does not see anyone differently, and it does not avoid one group over the other. Depression effects and affects all of us to some degree and it hurts individuals in so many ways.
If I can get one thing out of this article or one point across, it would be to not be ashamed if you are feeling depressed and/or down and to seek help and support. There are services available and people specialized to help those affected out in all communities. Do not be afraid to take that first step. Depression is not something that can be fixed overnight, nor is it something that you can be cured from after a few weeks. It is a lifelong illness that will have good days and bad, but when identified and treated, it can be assisted.
It may be too late now for many of the professional athletes that have passed due to depression, however, there also does not have to be another name added to the list of greats among us if we take the time to talk about it and do something.
Other references:
10942910 http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/Time-for-athletes-sports-to-wake-up-on-depression-issue-090211
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clara_Hughes
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