Has anyone noticed that this summer was a mess of tragedies and let downs in the world of professional athletes and their mental health? How can coaches or teammates, or even the general public ever guess at what these athletes are capable of? How can this be prevented?

Doing a little of my own research and just a few common sense suggestions, maybe after the stress of being up on a pedestal there should be something like a quarterly psych evaluation.

According to Sports Illustrated magazine, in an article printed Sept. 8, 2003, “Mental illness still carries a powerful stigma in pro sports, but there are signs that teams are finally facing the problem and trying to help troubled athletes.” If this is how we are facing the stigma of mental illness among pro-athletes then we are obviously failing them and their loved ones.

Later in the article it is said that, “The list of athletes who suffer from depression, bipolar disorder or social anxiety disorder; Ricky Williams, the NFL's 2002 rushing leader, suffered such overwhelming social anxiety that he couldn't bring himself to leave his house to mail a letter. Terry Bradshaw, the Hall of Fame quarterback and irrepressible NFL broadcaster, was once so depressed that he would go to bed crying.”

To name a few; Mike Tyson was said to be depressed long before the days of the “ear incident.” Tragically, pro-wrestler Chris Benoit murdered his wife and son before taking his own life in June of this year.

Authorities were asked to check on Benoit, and his family, after strange text messages were sent to friends on Sunday morning. No one suspected something like this would happen. So what is being done now?

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