At just 19 years old, Raven Saunders, also known as "The Hulk," achieved an impressive fifth-place finish in the shot put event at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. This remarkable accomplishment catapulted them into the spotlight, marking them as one of the youngest female shot putters to compete at the Olympics. Despite the exhilaration of their Olympic success, Raven's return home was marred by a deep depression, fueled by unresolved childhood traumas. This ordeal set Raven on a life-changing journey of triumph over tragedy.
Raven's turning point came when they reached out to a therapist at Ole Miss, someone they felt truly understood her struggles. This therapist became a lifeline, especially during a critical moment when Raven contemplated ending their life. Their decision to text their therapist while at a crossroads, both literally and figuratively, ultimately saved Raven's life.
Raven highlighted the stigma surrounding mental health in the African-American community, where seeking help is often seen as a sign of weakness. They shared their journey of breaking through these cultural barriers and finding the courage to seek therapy. Raven's story underscores the importance of addressing mental health issues openly and honestly.
This week, you’ll learn the importance of finding support and seeking help, how to break the mental health stigma in the African-American community, and how to Inspire others through advocacy.
LEARN MORE:
>> The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis: 1-800-273-8255 (https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org)
>> Gatorade Presents: UNSTOPPABLE Feat. Trayvon Bromell & Raven Saunders (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBix4I09_yg)
>> PBS Voices: An Olympic Athlete Takes on Depression (Feat. Raven Saunders) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-GwT-4xc3Q)
>> Follow Raven on Twitter and Instagram (https://twitter.com/GiveMe1Shot?s=20) (https://www.instagram.com/giveme1shot__)
>> Check out other Motivational Mondays episodes (https://www.nsls.org/blog/tag/motivational-mondays)
NSLS MEMBERS ONLY:
>>Listen to the bonus episode to learn when Raven discovered the moment they had massive physical strength and how their mental health care has made them a better person on and off the field. (https://thens.ls/3WkzlAb)
Mentioned in this episode:
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