DeMar DeRozan opens up about mental health: 'It's all about helping others' | ESPN

ESPN

2 Mar 201802:26

Summary

TLDRDamar Hamlin, a professional athlete, opens up about his struggles with mental health and depression, which he kept quiet for a long time. He explains that as he grew older, he realized the importance of sharing his experiences to help others who might be going through similar battles. Hamlin credits basketball as a coping mechanism that has helped him suppress his mental health issues and drive him to excel in his career. He hopes that by speaking out, he can inspire others to seek help and not feel ashamed to discuss mental health.

Takeaways

🏀 Damar has been open about his struggles with mental health and depression, a topic he believes is bigger than basketball.
🔍 He initially kept quiet about his mental health issues due to personal reasons and societal stigma.
🌟 Damar's decision to speak out was driven by a desire to help others who might be experiencing similar struggles.
🤔 He acknowledges that reaching a certain age and wanting to assist others was a turning point for him to share his experiences.
🏋️‍♂️ Basketball has been a coping mechanism for Damar, allowing him to focus his energy and forget about other issues.
🤝 Damar has received a positive response from various individuals, including professional athletes, after opening up about his mental health.
💪 His openness has inspired others to find the courage to accept and discuss their mental health issues.
👥 The support Damar received was not limited to sports figures; it came from people across different walks of life.
🌈 Damar feels good knowing that his actions have had a positive impact and have potentially helped others.
💬 The dialogue suggests that mental health is a widespread issue that needs to be addressed and discussed openly.

Q & A

What prompted Damar to open up about his mental health struggles?
-Damar decided to speak up about his mental health and depression to help others who might be going through similar experiences, rather than being a selfish person focused only on his own struggles.
How did Damar initially cope with his mental health issues?
-Damar used basketball as a suppression mechanism, using the sport as an outlet to focus his mind and energy, which helped him forget about other issues.
What was Damar's motivation for sharing his personal battles with mental health?
-Damar's motivation was to potentially help others by sharing his experiences, hoping that his openness could inspire or give courage to those who are also struggling.
How did Damar's approach to mental health change over time?
-Initially, Damar was quiet and did not want to speak about his mental health issues. However, as he grew older, he realized the importance of helping others and decided to share his story.
What was the reaction from others after Damar spoke about his mental health?
-The response was overwhelmingly positive, with many people, including professional athletes, reaching out to Damar, which made him feel good and validated his decision to speak out.
How has basketball been a part of Damar's mental health journey?
-Basketball has been a therapeutic tool for Damar, allowing him to focus intensely on the sport and temporarily forget about his mental health issues.
What impact did Damar's openness have on others?
-Damar's openness gave others the courage to accept and discuss their own mental health issues, potentially helping them to seek help or find solace in knowing they are not alone.
Did Damar receive support from other professional athletes after his revelation?
-Yes, Damar received support from many people, including professional athletes, which was a significant part of the positive response he received.
What advice does Damar have for those who are hesitant to talk about their mental health?
-Damar's experience suggests that sharing one's struggles can be beneficial not only for oneself but also for others, potentially inspiring them to seek help and support.
How does Damar view the role of sports in mental health?
-Damar sees sports, particularly basketball, as a means to channel focus and energy into something productive, which can help in managing and overcoming mental health challenges.
What was Damar's initial attitude towards discussing his mental health?
-Damar was initially quiet and did not want to speak about his mental health, but he later realized the importance of sharing his experiences to help others.

Outlines

00:00

🏀 Opening Up About Mental Health

Damar, a basketball player, discusses his decision to openly talk about his struggles with mental health and depression, which he had kept quiet for a long time. He explains that as he got older, he realized the importance of sharing his experiences to help others who might be going through similar issues. He believes that by speaking up, he can inspire others to do the same and reduce the stigma around mental health. Damar also mentions that basketball has been a form of suppression for him, allowing him to focus his energy and forget about his problems for a while. He has received a lot of positive responses from various people, including professional athletes, which has reinforced his decision to be open about his mental health journey.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Mental Health

Mental health refers to a person's emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It is the context within which individuals realize their potential, cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively, and contribute to their communities. In the script, the speaker discusses his personal battles with mental health, particularly depression, which is a significant theme of the video. The speaker's openness about his struggles aims to destigmatize mental health issues and encourage others to seek help.

💡Depression

Depression is a common mental health disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities. It can affect a person's thoughts, behavior, mood, and physical health. In the transcript, the speaker shares his experiences with depression, which he initially kept private. His decision to speak out is part of his mission to raise awareness and support for those facing similar challenges.

💡Battling

The term 'battling' in this context refers to the ongoing struggle or fight against a difficult situation or condition, such as mental health issues. The speaker uses this word to describe his personal journey with depression, indicating the ongoing effort required to manage and cope with his mental health.

💡Suppression

Suppression, in the context of the video, refers to the act of keeping one's feelings or problems hidden from others. The speaker mentions that basketball served as a suppression for his mental health struggles, allowing him to focus his energy on the sport and temporarily set aside his emotional pain.

💡Selfish

Selfishness is the quality of being concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself, often at the expense of others. The speaker reflects on his past reluctance to share his struggles, which he now recognizes as a form of selfishness. His current perspective is focused on helping others by sharing his experiences, which is a shift from his previous, more self-centered approach.

💡Courage

Courage is the ability to face danger, difficulty, uncertainty, or pain without fear. In the transcript, the speaker mentions that his decision to speak out about his mental health struggles has inspired others to find the courage to accept and discuss their own issues. This highlights the power of personal narratives in fostering a supportive community.

💡Professional Athletes

Professional athletes are individuals who participate in sports at a high level, often as a primary source of income. The speaker mentions that his openness about mental health has resonated with professional athletes, indicating that these issues are not confined to any particular group and can affect anyone, regardless of their profession.

💡Response

Response in this context refers to the reaction or reply to a particular action or statement. The speaker describes the positive response he received after sharing his experiences, which validates his decision to speak out and suggests that his message has had a broader impact on others.

💡Basketball

Basketball is a popular team sport played by two teams of five players each on a rectangular court. In the transcript, basketball is mentioned as a coping mechanism for the speaker's mental health struggles. It serves as a form of therapy, allowing him to channel his emotions into the game and achieve a sense of accomplishment.

💡Positive Impact

A positive impact refers to the beneficial effects or influence that one's actions have on others. The speaker discusses the positive impact his decision to share his mental health journey has had, inspiring others to seek help and feel less alone in their struggles. This underscores the importance of open dialogue in promoting mental well-being.

💡Quiet

Being 'quiet' in this context refers to the speaker's previous tendency to keep his thoughts and feelings to himself, which was partly due to his mental health struggles. His decision to become more vocal about his experiences represents a significant shift from his previously quiet demeanor.

Highlights

Damar discusses his battles with mental health and depression, a widespread issue.

He shares the genesis of his decision to speak out about his mental health struggles.

Damar talks about his initial reluctance to discuss his mental health due to fear of judgment.

He explains his motivation to help others by sharing his experiences.

Damar reveals that basketball has been a form of suppression and a driving force in his life.

He describes how basketball allows him to focus and temporarily forget about his struggles.

Damar emphasizes the positive impact of using basketball as a coping mechanism.

He mentions the overwhelming response from various people, including professional athletes, after he spoke out.

Damar highlights the courage his openness has given to others to accept and discuss mental health.

He expresses the positive feelings he gets from knowing his actions help others.

Damar reflects on the importance of not being selfish and using his platform to benefit others.

He acknowledges the support he has received from the NHL community.

Damar shares the broad range of people who have reached out to him, showing the universality of mental health struggles.

He talks about the power of sharing personal experiences to inspire and encourage others.

Damar emphasizes the importance of mental health awareness and the need to break the stigma.

He concludes by expressing the satisfaction he gets from making a positive difference in people's lives.