Former BYU athletes hope mental health issues move from stigma to spotlight

.....“I started to shut down,” Mangum said. “I lost a lot of motivation. I lost my enthusiasm, my passion for life, and then I went into this dark place where I wasn’t feeling like myself. I didn’t want to spend time with friends and family like I usually did. I wanted to isolate myself and be alone in my room and not think about anything else.”

Mangum said he tried to act like everything was fine when he was in public. He didn’t want anyone to know he was struggling because males, especially football players, are supposed to be tough. He thought that talking about it would be seen as a sign of weakness, so he didn’t tell his family or friends. For months, he suffered in silence......

   ...more

Bethany`s Notes: Take a listen to this podcast to get a better understanding of Tanner`s experiences. “Maybe the Best of Things: A Podcast with Tanner Mangum. It`s always great with some of the best come forward and share their stories.