“It is …clear that far too many players either choose to ignore their symptoms or fail to treat their mental health issues with the same diligence they would a broken wrist or knee injury.”

-Jackie MacMullan

Recently, prominent athletes in the NBA such as Kevin Love and DeMar DeRozan have started a conversation about with the importance of mental health. Love talked about how he has addressed his own unhelpful symptoms of anxiety.  Love highlighted the stigma that elite athletes players should have perfect mental health. John Lucas, assistant coach to the Houston Rockets, state that mental health issues are “epidemic in our league…from ADHD to bipolar to anxiety and depression.”  In other words, elite athletes are human.  Love spoke up because he wants mental health to be as important as physical health:  “the last thing this should be is taboo, but that’s what it is.” The National Basketball Players Association recently hired Dr. William Parham as its first director of mental health and wellness, indicating a positive first step in acknowledging the importance of mental health and keeping it in the forefront of efforts to get and stay healthy.