“When DeRozan said he hoped that some people might look at him and see a person who has struggled with depression and who nevertheless lives a meaningful and successful life, to me it was even more exciting than a Game 7 buzzer beater,” Dr. Sinyor explains in the op-ed.

It was 2018 when DeRozan, then a Toronto Raptor, tweeted “This depression get the best of me.”

Dr. Sinyor explains that by DeRozan opening up about his struggle with depression, it inspired conversation to help address stigma around mental health, in particular, among men who are still facing stereotypes that seeking help is ‘weak.’

Dr. Sinyor says DeRozan’s game-changing tweet and openness “gave this city and its fans a gift beyond basketball.”

Read the full op-ed.

Learn why it is important to talk about men’s mental health.

If you need help in an emergency, please call 911 or visit your local emergency department. If you’re feeling like you’re in crisis or need somebody to talk to, please know that help is also available 24/7 through community resources:
Phone: toll-free at 1-833-456-4566
Text: 45645 (4 p.m. – 12 a.m. EST)
Chat: crisisservicescanada.ca

The post How former Toronto Raptors player DeMar DeRozan helped change the conversation about mental health appeared first on Your Health Matters.