May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Although I strive to raise awareness for mental health every day of every month, I try to take more time this month to talk about the importance of mental health awareness and how taking a few minutes out of every day to focus on your own mental health or listening to someone else talk about theirs can make the most significant of differences.
The Misconception of Mental Health in Sports
When I was playing football, there were two words that never went together: mental health. Especially as a sports star, people thought, “How could he be depressed? He has everything.” But when you’re dealing with depression, your view of the world goes from wide and expansive down to essentially looking through a keyhole. Colors aren’t vibrant, everything is numb, and it feels like there is no way out. When I decided to kill myself, there were no other options; this way was the only logical choice in my sick brain. Fortunately, I was dealt my greatest failure in life and have a second chance to pull away from the keyhole and look at life with a different perspective.
Advocating for Mental Health: A Daily Priority
I use my second chance to advocate today and every day for increased mental health awareness, and to help adults, teens, and children understand that mental health matters and that you need to prioritize the time to focus on and attend to your mental health.
The Simple Power of Connection: Talk, Listen, Support
For the month of May, I challenge you to take a little time out of every day to focus not just on your own mental health, but also to check in on your friends and loved ones. Talk, listen, support—that’s it! No one needs to suffer alone, especially in today’s world where the words “mental health” side by side don’t just go together but are accepted.
Finding Your Mental Peace: Engaging in What You Love
On top of checking on yourself and your community, what makes you feel mentally at peace? Sports has been my salvation my entire life. When I was younger, it was football, and although I can’t play the game the way I did then, I still find ways to stay mentally in the game. Whether it be making my weekly videos of game recaps, predictions, and opinions; working on The Erik Kramer Passing Camp, a camp where I don’t only help kids excel at the sport of football but also raise awareness for mental health in sports and life; or catching up with old friends and teammates on the golf course and remembering the old days and arguing over who’s the better golfer these days.
Find out what works for you
Maybe for you it’s hockey? If it is, then find some time to either get on the ice or in a roller rink, by yourself or with friends, to hit some pucks around. Maybe you’re a musician? Well then, take a little extra time this month to work on your instrument, a song, or just to listen to your favorite artist. Maybe even go to a live gig. Just like sports, you don’t have to pay $100s-$1000s to go to a game or concert. Go to a local show, check out your city’s minor league sports team—do something for you and your mental health!
The Ongoing Journey of Recovery: You Are Not Alone
I had to make the Ultimate Comeback, and to some extent, I’m still making it every day. TAKE THE TIME! We get one life, and unfortunately, it’s never easy, even when at first glance it seems that it is; it isn’t. DON’T SUFFER ALONE! Pull away from the keyhole and ask for help. My social media manager once told me that asking for help feels like admitting there is something wrong with you—there isn’t! Asking for help is a strength that many people don’t know they have. YOU ARE LOVED, AND YOU MATTER! I’ve written the letters, I’ve crossed the threshold thinking I was doing the right thing (I wasn’t), and was unanimously told that they would much rather have me than a reminder.
Embracing Growth: Mental Health Matters Every Day
Mental health matters! Take the time every day, every month to spread that message, especially this May. Mental Health Awareness Month being in May is very fitting, I feel. A month where everything is in bloom. Just like the trees, you too can bloom again and again and again.
For More Information on Mental health
For more information and resources on mental health, please visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) at https://www.nami.org/ or the Mental Health America (MHA) website at https://www.mhanational.org/.