Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Let Athletes Lead the Way on Mental Health

.....The problem is the desire for the public to hold up performing artists and athletes as paragons of perfection and then punish them when they are anything less. They see mental health issues as a character issue — to suffer is to be weak. This despite the statistics: one in four adults and one in five teens experiences a diagnosable mental disorder. Rather, the public should admire public figures’ perseverance and character strength for all they’ve accomplished despite their challenges — and learn coping skills from them. Actually, it’s a reflection of our own character whether we choose to be supportive or derisive, because that reflects either our capacity for compassion — or the depth of our own personal fears....   ...more

Bethany`s Notes: A nice read written by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Let the athletes lead and let them be human.