Golden State Warriors: Players must continue to discuss mental health issues

The Golden State Warriors and other teams, along with players need to continue to speak out against mental health issues.

Last week before the Warriors’ trip to Washington D.C. to play the Wizards, Anthony Slater of The Athletic published an article, “The Warriors answer: What can be fixed in our country? What still encourages them about it?”

Several players, coach Steve Kerr and general manager Bob Myers participated in the interviews.

However, there was one response to the question: What’s something you think can realistically be fixed in the next five years? that caught my eye.

It was Kevin Durant‘s response to this question.

Here’s his response:

“Mental health awareness. It’s something that needs to be discussed and talked about more. I know it’s difficult because it’s hard to figure out exactly what somebody’s thinking and you have to dive deep into somebody’s mind and, I guess, background to help somebody out.

But I think we can definitely be better at helping, especially at a younger age with these kids who may be going through a lot. We need more mentors, more older folks to guide the younger kids through this life.

It’s hard for me to word it because, you know, it’s just a feeling. But mental health is just something we need to talk about at schools and in the workplace. So many people go through so much inside.

It just feels like we need more mentors and that younger generation needs more love and care. That’s a broad statement, but I just feel like that’s the root of the problems. Sometimes, these young boys, young girls just need somebody to talk to. That’s going back to our communities and not just giving back money, but giving back time, sharing our experiences.”

Just recently, players have been coming out with statements on their mental health issues, most notably, DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors, Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Kelly Oubre Jr. seemed to have sparked a trend.

Here’s a small exerpt from DeRozan speaking out on dealing with depression. (via The Star)

“It’s one of them things that no matter how indestructible we look like we are, we’re all human at the end of the day,” DeRozan said. “Sometimes…it gets the best of you, where times everything in the whole world’s on top of you.”

After DeRozan spoke out on his issue with depression, Love wrote an article on The Player’s Tribune on his sudden anxiety attack. Here’s a small portion of what he had to say.

“If you’re suffering silently like I was, then you know how it can feel like nobody really gets it. Partly, I want to do it for me, but mostly, I want to do it because people don’t talk about mental health enough.”

DeRozan and Love both spoke out and now it was time for Oubre Jr.’s turn to give his thoughts on his own mental health issues.

“I can definitely relate to it all… I’m really good at keeping a poker face because when I was growing up my dad always told me ‘don’t let anybody see you weak.’ Nobody sees that I’m weak, but deep down inside I am going through a lot. Hell is turning over.” (via Chase Hughes)

Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety are real.

It’s important for players to continuing to speak out on this sensitive, but incredibly vital issue that plagues people in our society everyday.

NBA players speaking out on an issue like this will not only have the courage to let it out into the open, but will hopefully inspire several others to do the same.

Players should not just speak out and use their platforms to discuss and create a dialogue for this issue, but teams in the league should start doing this as well.

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As one of the most popular teams in the league, the Warriors should use their high profile platforms to encourage people to speak out about their mental health issues, only if comfortable. Stars such as Durant and Stephen Curry should use their social media platforms to help spread awareness on this issue and inspire change among the younger generations.

Speaking out about mental health issues has become a small trend in the NBA, players and teams need to continue to do so to inspire courage from people, who are suffering from a mental health illness.