John Wall, a five-time NBA champion, described his struggle with suicidal thoughts and mental health challenges over the past two years in an interview earlier this month.
The video shown above is from a previous report.
Wall, 31, spoke about his experiences during an interview at a John Wall Foundation event with the Salvation Army in his hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina. ClutchPoints shared a video From the interview in a tweet on Monday.
When asked how the last two and a half years have been for him, the Los Angeles Clippers described this period as “the darkest place I’ve ever been.”
“At one point, I thought about suicide,” Wall said.
He explained the heavy emotional toll of “my Achilles’ being torn apart, my mom is sick, my mom is dead, my grandmother is dead a year later,” adding that these struggles have been exacerbated by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Wall said difficult experiences shaped his current outlook on life.
“I’m going to chemotherapy and sitting there,” Wall said. “I see my mom taking her last breath. I wear the same clothes for three days in a row and lay on the couch crying.” “Given all of that, I’m like, if I can get through this, I can get over anything in life.”
Wall also revealed that he sought treatment from a therapist to help address his mental health issues.
“You know a lot of people think, ‘I don’t need help, I can get over that at any time,’ but you have to be honest with yourself and figure out what’s best for you, and I did,” he said.
Wall has played in the NBA since 2010 after he was drafted by the Washington Wizards. His Achilles tendon ruptured in 2019, which left him in limbo for an extended period while he was recovering, according to the NBA’s website.
Wall did not play in the 2021-22 NBA season as a member of the Houston Rockets. He averaged over 20 points and nearly 7 assists per game during the 2020-21 season and signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in July.
The Athletes Foundation is working to support disadvantaged families in North Carolina, according to its social media accounts.
The 2022-23 NBA regular season begins on October 18. The Los Angeles Clippers begin their season on October 21 against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Crypto.com Arena.
If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or call 988.
SEE ALSO: Suicide rates rise as NCAA athletes experience fatigue, anxiety, and more
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