NBA stars like Kevin Love and DeMar DeRozan are making it known that even professional athletes struggle with mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety.

During February’s All-Star break, the two were approached about filming a public service announcement for Mental Health Month, an observance every May that aims to shatter the stigma surrounding mental health struggles so that others may feel more comfortable about seeking help.

Love and DeRozan were quick to jump onboard with the campaign. Love, a forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers, opened up about a panic attack he suffered during a game on Nov. 5 in a first-person piece published on The Players Tribune.

“It came out of nowhere. I’d never had one before. I didn’t even know if they were real. But it was real — as real as a broken hand or a sprained ankle,” he wrote. “Since that day, almost everything about the way I think about my mental health has changed.”

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 18: DeMar Derozan #10 of Team Stephen dunks during the NBA All-Star Game 2018 at Staples Center on February 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Pool/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors has long been transparent about his struggles with depression.

“It’s one of them things that no matter how indestructible we look like we are, we’re all human at the end of the day,” he told The Toronto Star.

So, Love and DeRozan teamed up for the powerful 30-second spot, which will run throughout the entire month of May.

“I think everyone walks around with something you can’t see,” Love says.

“We all go through it. I don’t care who you are,” DeRozan adds.

Then, the duo encourage others to tend to their well-being.

“The best thing that I did was to come out and say, ‘Hey look, I need some help,’ ” Love explains.

“Never be ashamed of wanting to be a better you, period,” DeRozan concludes.

 

 

When asked about the spot after Cleveland’s Game 7 win on Sunday, Love said,

“Mental health affects everybody. It really doesn’t discriminate. I meant what I said in my piece that everybody’s going through something you can’t see. I thought it was very important for us to speak up and use the platform the NBA has. It’s such a global game and reaches so many people in all demographics.”

The league itself and the NBA Players Association are taking the issue seriously, too. They’re almost done creating an extensive mental health program that will “will allow players to seek treatment and counseling outside of the framework of their individual teams, if they want. Existing team physicians and other resources will still be available to them, too,” according to David Aldridge.

A Director of Mental Health and Wellness will soon be named to lead the trail-blazing program.

See what happens when anonymity isn’t the default? Big actions lead the way.