SHANE SIMPSON

As a former division 1 athlete and now professional, I feel as our mental health gets neglected just because the benefits us athletes have. There’s a lot of unseen stuff that non athletes and people don’t see. My story just going thru adversity all my life to get where I want to be. From having four surgeries, 2 best friends died, transferring and playing the COVID-19 season, not hearing my names called on draft day, and family stuff. I definitely struggled with my mental health in the past trying to hide it like I was good at times when people asked. As I got older I realized letting close ones family, friends, or even a sports psychiatrist know that your struggling it’s okay. It doesn’t make you less of a man/person actually makes you stronger when you can talk to people. I know life itself always gonna give you ups and downs but how I managed to repeatedly come out on top is because of god, my support system, sports psychiatrist, and betting on myself. Without struggle there is no progress.