Grant Gordon
NFL.com Digital Content Producer
In the aftermath of his brother’s #suicide and his mother’s battle with cancer, #DallasCowboys star quarterback #DakPrescott was candid about his own bout with #anxiety and #depression, while urging others to talk openly about an often difficult topic.
“I think that is important to be vulnerable, to be genuine and to be transparent,” Prescott said in an interview earlier this year for “In Depth With Graham Bensinger” that was recently released. “That goes a long way when you are a leader and your voice is being heard by so many and you can inspire.”
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
#Mentalhealth is an issue often cast aside or ignored by many who doubt its legitimacy or severity. Others realize it for the overwhelming and often suffocating illness it is.
Superstar quarterback or not, Prescott bravely announced himself as being among the latter with heartfelt and poignant words on Thursday.
Having previously taped the interview for “In Depth With Graham Bensinger,” excerpts have been released and Prescott spoke candidly with reporters regarding them, along with his brother Jace committing #suicide, his mother’s battle with colon cancer and the toll it took upon him and that during the #COVID-19 #pandemic he’s had his own struggles with #depression.
“It creates new emotions — emotions that I’ve never felt before but obviously dealt with,” Prescott said about dealing with the novel #coronavirus #pandemic, per the team website. “And I obviously got the help that I needed and was very open about it. I think that’s why I was fortunate enough to get over it, as not all of us are.”
Being able to talk about his issues in the past was one of the prevailing reasons he believes he’s in a better place mentally now.
It’s also a reason he advocates for more people opening up.
“I think it’s huge,” Prescott said. “I think it’s huge to talk. I think it’s huge to get help. And it saves lives.”
More than 48,000 people die from #suicide each year in the #UnitedStates, according to the #NationalInstituteofMentalHealth.
During his interview with Bensinger, he revealed that throughout the quarantine, he began experiencing #anxiety and #depression in the days before his brother’s death. Furthermore, he did not know how to process them or work through them, with sleep rarely coming.
Eventually, simply talking about the problems he was dealing with proved to be the best remedy.
“If I wouldn’t have talked about those things to the people I did, I wouldn’t have realized my friends and a lot more people go through them — and they are as common as they are,” he said.
Nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a #mentalillness — 46.6 million during 2017 — per the NIMH.
A leader on the field for the Cowboys, Prescott was open in a way many athletes are still wary of being. Perhaps his words can lead others off the field in an area of need overlooked for far too long.
For anyone interested in #mentalhealthissues or experiencing problems, visit the #NationalInstituteofMentalHealth website. For those in need of immediate help, call the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
