Kevin Love to receive award for opening up about mental health
Kevin Love’s story was titled “Everyone Is Going Through Something.” It ran on The Players Tribune. It delved into his own personal battle with a panic attack.
The Cleveland Cavaliers forward did not have to write the piece. He did not have to open the world’s eyes to struggles those in the spotlight may deal with. But he did and for good reason. He did it to sympathize with the common man or woman — not to win any particular award.
But on Monday, John Telich of Fox 8 in Cleveland reported Love will win an award. More specifically, Love will win the “Bronze Key” award, which acknowledges a person/organization who champions support for those diagnosed with mental illness and/or addiction through action.
Last November, Love was stressed with family circumstances and was struggling to sleep. That month, he suffered a panic attack during a game. Afterward, he visited the Cleveland Clinic and went through tests that ultimately checked out.
Days later, Love returned to the court. He felt better, but his internal battle weighed on him.
So he opened up — to his teammates and then the world.
“Mental health isn’t just an athlete thing,” Love wrote in the piece. “What you do for a living doesn’t have to define who you are. This is an everyone thing. No matter what our circumstances, we’re all carrying around things that hurt — and they can hurt us if we keep them buried inside.”
The fallout of Love’s piece was tremendous. Other athletes stepped up, and more have continued to tell their stories since.
With LeBron James having left the Cavaliers for the Los Angeles Lakers, Love will become the face of a franchise. Good thing he has already served as a face — for mental health awareness as it relates to professional athletes.
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