Podcast Summary
Football and Mental Health: Former football player Shay Emery's career-ending injury led him to deal with depression, which he realized had roots in childhood trauma. He now advocates for mental health awareness through his organization, Wellman.
Former Montreal Alouettes all-star linebacker Shay Emery pivoted from a football career cut short by injury to founding an organization, Wellman, focused on mental health. Emery, who played six seasons with the Alouates and was known for his fierce style, suffered a career-ending injury with the Roughriders after being traded from Toronto. Following this, he dealt with depression, which he realized had predated his football career. Having repressed childhood abuse and trauma, Emery's football success masked deeper issues. After recognizing the need for self-reflection and healing, he has spent the last eight years working on his mental health and is now an ambassador for Bell Let's Talk. Through his experiences, Emery demonstrates the importance of addressing mental health and the resilience that can come from overcoming adversity.
Football team and depression: Communicating with friends and showing up for social environment can help manage feelings of depression, even when it's hard to 'man up' and keep going.
Dealing with feelings of not being "up and at it," which can be described as depression, can be likened to being part of a football team. Even when you're performing well, you might not feel right, and there's pressure to "man up" and keep going. This pressure is about showing up for your team and social environment, even on difficult days. Communication with friends is essential, and while it's important not to ignore your emotions, showing up and being a part of something bigger than yourself can help navigate through tough times. Shay's personal experience illustrates this, as she describes feeling alone and uncertain during a prolonged period of isolation, despite having a successful career. Her coping mechanism involved establishing a solid morning routine to set the foundation for a good day. Overall, the key takeaway is that showing up and communicating with others can be powerful tools in managing feelings of depression.
Mental Health Options: Explore various options like talk therapy, medication, personal development, life coaches, self-care practices, and prioritize mental health to seek help when needed.
Individuals facing mental health challenges have various options to explore their healing journey. These include talk therapy, medication, personal development, life coaches, and self-care practices like yoga and breathwork. It's essential to make the decision to prioritize your mental health and seek help when needed. Wellmen.org, as an example, serves as a catalyst for conversations around men's health, encouraging open dialogue and fostering support networks among men. Remember, progress and improvement are ongoing processes, and there's always room for growth.
Mental health dialogue: Open and honest dialogue around mental health experiences is crucial for breaking the stigma and normalizing conversations, inspiring others to share their truths and empowering change.
The power of open and honest dialogue around mental health experiences. Shay's story has inspired other men to share their own truths and human experiences, which is a crucial step towards real change in the mental health game. This conversation has the potential to empower and normalize conversations around mental health, making it a vital step towards breaking the stigma. Shay, thank you for sharing your story with us today. Your courage and vulnerability have made a difference, and we appreciate having you on the show. It's time to continue this conversation and make a significant impact on mental health awareness and support.