Health is Wealth - Mental Awareness Month 2020

By: Rayoni Matos

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

In honor of May being Mental Health Awareness month I want to share the importance of understanding mental health, and ways we can support one another. Did you know that 1 in 5 people experience a mental health illness during their lifetime? We all face challenges in life that impact our mental health, and while some of us are able to handle it better than others, it does not mean that struggle doesn’t exist. The sports industry is a brutal business driven by competition, consistency, pressure, and perseverance. In order to break in we must be able to consistently show our unique skill sets, and have a never give up mentality, and attitude. Unfortunately, there are cases where even with giving it our all, it just doesn’t work out, or cases where someone is rejected hundreds of times in the process. These are our dreams, and facing the reality of not being able to accomplish them or the thought of someone taking it away from us is unbearable, and can be demoralizing.

For many of us, sports aren’t just games we casually watch on Sundays, or Wednesdays, as former players, or devout followers, sports make up a large part of our identities, and without it we can feel extremely lost. Mental Health does not discriminate, and can impact anyone at anytime. Understanding more about mental health can make us better rounded, and allow us to be better compassionate towards others. Being kind and caring goes a long way in the world. We truly never know what someone else is going through, and in the journey of life, it is important to take care of each other. The courage of athletes such as Kevin Love, and DeMar DeRozan who in recent years spoke openly about their bouts of depression is instrumental in the process of mental health awareness, and helping break the negative stigma surrounding mental health.

These illnesses are not about someone being crazy, or sad, they are about the ways someone thinks, reacts, and feels. A person dealing with a mental health issue cannot simply just snap out of it or stop feeling the way they feel, at some point their responses to things that happen in life become programmed and habitual. By doing our part in being supportive, and spreading the knowledge of mental health we can stop the unfair judgments towards people who struggle. Instead of classifying individuals who struggle as weak and fragile, we should admire them for their determination in their continuous fight.

The Sports as a Job platform puts an emphasis on supporting our community, and being there for current or aspiring sports business professionals. Our team is here for you, and will support you in any way we can. From today on, make sure to take time and check in on your people. Let them know you are there for them and extend a hand. This act of kindness can go a long way for someone who is struggling, and can be exactly what they need in order to feel seen and heard. We are all on our individual journey, but you are not alone.