Listen Anderson’s message. If you’ve already watched the video, watch it again. And absorb every word of it, whether it’s you who needs help or you who needs to give it.
I wanted to write a feature column about Anderson’s life, especially his last few years, all the stuff that reaches far beyond football. I was told “no” by those guardians at the school who are in charge of such access, that the coach was not yet prepared to discuss these delicate, personal matters. I’m glad that that was his response then. He’s ready now — so he did the video, coming directly from him.
Life is hard — for everyone at one time or another, or a lot of times, and the effect it has on folks, or can have, especially those with certain vulnerabilities, can be severe.Anderson talks about this in his video. He, like a lot of men, was raised with the idea that it’s somehow manly not to show emotion, not to cry, not to show signs of exposure or susceptibility of any sort. You get hurt, you suck it up. You feel down or low, you pick yourself back up without revealing a thing.
Thank you for this and for the editor's note at the beginning with the Lifeline number and URL. I would just also add 988 (the new mental heath crisis line), afsputah, and Caring Connections (that has grief support groups through uofunursing).