Saint Thomas faced a profound struggle with depression during his sophomore year at Loyola Chicago, feeling detached from his passion for basketball and grappling with dark thoughts about life. Despite attempts to communicate his struggles to teammates and coaches, including his mother, he felt his pleas for help were met with misunderstanding. A moment of humiliation during practice exacerbated his feelings of despair. Thomas's story highlights the critical issue of mental health awareness, particularly in sports, where athletes may hesitate to express their vulnerabilities openly.
He tried to reach out for help at Loyola, even confiding in his coach about his feelings. But no one seemed to understand.
I told them that if I kept pushing through it would get to a point where I can't do it no more.
I'm telling him I'm sad, and here he is telling everyone I'm sad and trying to pick on me even more.
Now he couldn't shake the feeling that he didn't want to live anymore.
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