Former NBA player, Delonte west, is someone I’ve written about frequently on this platform.
Drafted in 2004, he actually had a nice career…playing for teams like the Celtics, Cavs, & Mavericks.
Unfortunately, after his career, in 2016, he was seen panhandling barefoot in a hospital gown near a Houston hospital. Reports surfaced that he was managing a fight w bipolar.
Then in January of 2020, (slides➡️), he was seen again on the streets, bloodied, speaking incoherently. The internet went off, pointing out how this “rich star had fallen.”
Almost exactly a year after that incident, Delonte made news as he was doing great (also slides➡️): having gotten help at a treatment facility center, one that then hired him to work for them. You can see how much more settled he looks in the pics. The help originally came from the man who owned the Mavs when West played for them, Mark Cuban. He personally picked up Delonte to bring him to get the help.
Unfortunately, while that was the narrative in January of ‘21, later last year (October), West was arrested, outside of a police station in Florida, after a relapse.
STILL, West got himself clean & was on pace to try out for the BIG3, back to playing competitively again.
This article from the NY Post now gives the latest update – West never showed for the BIG3 tryout, & was seen panhandling & loitering outside of a 7-11 as recently as yesterday in Virginia.
Mental health lives on a continuum. It’s constant work & there are constant life challenges we face. Some have it harder than others – tho how do we actually measure? We cant!
This example – bc it’s a public figure, while sad, is one of the clearest examples as to how our MH is something we have to constantly work on.
It flares up. It feels uncomfortable. We have to avoid vices. We need to continue to use positive coping mechanisms (STARR Exercises). Sometimes we go on a great run & can stick w them. Sometimes we can’t. Have mercy w yourself, & others. “Disorder/label” or not, it’s a rollercoaster.
This is work.