Broncos’ McKinley, pro sports, mental health, & sport psychology: A must read!

In light of the recent suicide by Denver Broncos wide receiver, Kenny McKinley, age 23, I planned to write a blog entry addressing issues of depression, suicidality, and other mental health concerns in sport. Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim, however, published a piece yesterday addressing all these issues and more. This fantastic article is a must-read for coaches, parents, and athletes:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_wertheim/09/21/depression/index.html

You may also be interested in an “insider perspective” concerning Los Angeles Lakers’ Ron Artest, who caused a social media storm when he thanked his psychiatrist after winning Game 7 in last summer’s NBA Finals. I continue to get daily search engine hits on that entry, which, gratefully, was also cited by the Menninger Clinic “say no to stigma” blog.

Have you ever experienced or witnessed negative attitudes about mental health issues in the sports environment? Perhaps it was a coach, an athlete, or a parent. What about positive experiences? Please share or openly discuss this critical issue in the comments section – I will be checking frequently and responding to any comments or questions. Also, feel free to contact me.