Haven't heard much about this. Always sad, especially this time of year.
Ryan Freel
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Some may not like my comment. I think it's gutless to bail out of life and leave kids without a father. It's also gutless to leave them with a life where Christmas will always remind them of their father killing himself. I once went through counseling and medication for a year. All I got was bored and sick to my stomach. I quit the medication and decided it was up to me to make myself happy rather than counselors giving me an excuse to be unhappy and blame it on my parents. I feel badly for the people Freel left behind, not him.
I agree with you 100% RJM.
"Don't judge me until you've stepped in my shoes."
I'm glad you were able to make yourself happy on your own, but life is difficult for many and mental health counseling as well as meds are important tools for many. To negate that is a disservice to those inflicted as well as the mental health profession. I am very sorry for his family and hope they are able to get the support they will need.
I'm glad you were able to make yourself happy on your own, but life is difficult for many and mental health counseling as well as meds are important tools for many. To negate that is a disservice to those inflicted as well as the mental health profession. I am very sorry for his family and hope they are able to get the support they will need.
It makes you wonder just how much impact these concussions had on him and his overall stability. We hear of football players doing this after they have suffered like injuries.
Just a very sad story all the way around. Sounds like he was a very caring and giving young man. Im sure this loss will reach far and wide.
YGD
Just a very sad story all the way around. Sounds like he was a very caring and giving young man. Im sure this loss will reach far and wide.
YGD
quote:It makes you wonder just how much impact these concussions had on him and his overall stability.
I think it's way too early to speculate that concussions led to this. Medical science has not yet conclusively identified concussions as a definite reason for suicide.
I think recent events such as this death and the tragedy in Connecticut show that we need to reemphasize mental health issues in our country, making it easier and less stigmitizing to get help for mental issues.
It is a tragedy that a young father felt that he had to take this step. I know professional athletes are used to being able to figure out ways to "win" or overcome adversity and have trained themselves to do it without asking for help as that might show a lack of "manliness". If we as a country could help people with mental health issues in a caring and timely way, some of the sad actions like these might be avoided.
How to do that is above my knowledge and needs to be addressed by our national and medical leadership.
It is a tragedy that a young father felt that he had to take this step. I know professional athletes are used to being able to figure out ways to "win" or overcome adversity and have trained themselves to do it without asking for help as that might show a lack of "manliness". If we as a country could help people with mental health issues in a caring and timely way, some of the sad actions like these might be avoided.
How to do that is above my knowledge and needs to be addressed by our national and medical leadership.
Bulldog, you may be right about that and Im certainly not here to split hairs on whether it is or isnt related. It's just something that seems to be on the radar as the below article states. It's just very ironic that these athlete's who have suffered concussions over the years succumb to the myriad of symptoms, and it becomes too much of a burden to bear, thus, ending their lives. Maybe one day we will know for sure:
Former teammates described Freel as likeable and generous. At this point, it's unknown whether Ryan was experiencing personal problems in the weeks preceding his suicide.
Freel's untimely death is reminiscent of the suicide of former NFL star Junior Seau, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in May 2012 at the age of 43. Like Freel, Seau had suffered a series of concussions during his pro football career.
In June 2012, over 2,000 former NFL players filed a federal lawsuit in Philadelphia alleging the National Football League deliberately concealed evidence of the link between football-related head injuries and long-term neurological damage.
The class action, which consolidated 80 pending lawsuits against the NFL, came on the heels of the suicides of former pro football stars who had suffered repeated concussions: Junior Seau in May 2012, Ray Easterling in April 2012, and Dave Duerson, who also died of a self-inflicted gun shot, in 2011.
In his suicide note, Duerson asked that his brain be donated to a research center because he believed the head trauma he suffered during his professional football career had caused him to suffer irreparable brain damage. Duerson's final words were: “Please, see that my brain is given to the N.F.L.’s brain bank.”
Medical experts say suffering repeated blows to the head causes brain injuries that eventually lead to depression, dementia and death. The medical community has found evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (a degenerative brain disease) posthumously in about 20 retired NFL players. The condition has been linked to cognitive impairment, depression and suicide.
In April 2012, former Atlanta Falcons star Ray Easterling shot himself to death at his home in Virginia at age 62.
At the time of his suicide, Easterling had been in the midst of a lawsuit against the NFL claiming it had tried to hide the link between football and brain injuries. Easterling had complained of depression, insomnia and dementia for the past 20 years.
His widow, Mary Ann Easterling, is among the plaintiffs in the federal class action. “I firmly believe the NFL could have, and should have, done more to protect Ray," Mrs. Easterling said in a press statement.
"That’s why I am seeking to hold the NFL accountable. Having lived through Ray’s struggle, I desperately hope and pray others can be spared the pain and suffering we have endured – and still endure every day.”
Former teammates described Freel as likeable and generous. At this point, it's unknown whether Ryan was experiencing personal problems in the weeks preceding his suicide.
Freel's untimely death is reminiscent of the suicide of former NFL star Junior Seau, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in May 2012 at the age of 43. Like Freel, Seau had suffered a series of concussions during his pro football career.
In June 2012, over 2,000 former NFL players filed a federal lawsuit in Philadelphia alleging the National Football League deliberately concealed evidence of the link between football-related head injuries and long-term neurological damage.
The class action, which consolidated 80 pending lawsuits against the NFL, came on the heels of the suicides of former pro football stars who had suffered repeated concussions: Junior Seau in May 2012, Ray Easterling in April 2012, and Dave Duerson, who also died of a self-inflicted gun shot, in 2011.
In his suicide note, Duerson asked that his brain be donated to a research center because he believed the head trauma he suffered during his professional football career had caused him to suffer irreparable brain damage. Duerson's final words were: “Please, see that my brain is given to the N.F.L.’s brain bank.”
Medical experts say suffering repeated blows to the head causes brain injuries that eventually lead to depression, dementia and death. The medical community has found evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (a degenerative brain disease) posthumously in about 20 retired NFL players. The condition has been linked to cognitive impairment, depression and suicide.
In April 2012, former Atlanta Falcons star Ray Easterling shot himself to death at his home in Virginia at age 62.
At the time of his suicide, Easterling had been in the midst of a lawsuit against the NFL claiming it had tried to hide the link between football and brain injuries. Easterling had complained of depression, insomnia and dementia for the past 20 years.
His widow, Mary Ann Easterling, is among the plaintiffs in the federal class action. “I firmly believe the NFL could have, and should have, done more to protect Ray," Mrs. Easterling said in a press statement.
"That’s why I am seeking to hold the NFL accountable. Having lived through Ray’s struggle, I desperately hope and pray others can be spared the pain and suffering we have endured – and still endure every day.”
I investigated numerous suicides as a police officer during my career. I also had several friends who suffered from PTSD due to the things they witnessed during their careers as police officers. I have heard people say many times "How could someone do something like that. I can not imagine it."
Its because your not in their situation. You cant imagine it because your not in their situation. Any person thinking properly would not do it. Depression etc causes people to do things we can not imagine doing. Some people need help. Professional help. I have no idea what causes a person to simply snap. What causes someone to lose it. We need to provide help to those that need it. ID those that need it. And remove the stigma's attached to those that seek care or would seek care.
It takes courage to seek help. Its not a sign of weakness to seek help. But to many it is. And that is sad imo.
Its because your not in their situation. You cant imagine it because your not in their situation. Any person thinking properly would not do it. Depression etc causes people to do things we can not imagine doing. Some people need help. Professional help. I have no idea what causes a person to simply snap. What causes someone to lose it. We need to provide help to those that need it. ID those that need it. And remove the stigma's attached to those that seek care or would seek care.
It takes courage to seek help. Its not a sign of weakness to seek help. But to many it is. And that is sad imo.
quote:Originally posted by Coach_May:
I have heard people say many times "How could someone do something like that. I can not imagine it."
Its because your not in their situation. You cant imagine it because your not in their situation. Any person thinking properly would not do it.
Totally agree.
quote:Originally posted by ClevelandDad:quote:Originally posted by Coach_May:
I have heard people say many times "How could someone do something like that. I can not imagine it."
Its because your not in their situation. You cant imagine it because your not in their situation. Any person thinking properly would not do it.
Totally agree.
Me too.
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Right there with you guys.
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Right there with you guys.
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quote:
Its because your not in their situation. You cant imagine it because your not in their situation. Any person thinking properly would not do it. Depression etc causes people to do things we can not imagine doing. Some people need help. Professional help. I have no idea what causes a person to simply snap. What causes someone to lose it. We need to provide help to those that need it. ID those that need it. And remove the stigma's attached to those that seek care or would seek care.
It takes courage to seek help. Its not a sign of weakness to seek help. But to many it is. And that is sad imo.
We'd all like to think medical science's understanding of the brain is as advaced as the latest Christmas gadgets we unwrapped today, but it simply isn't. Sure we know more every day, but the brain is still something of a "black box". We know what to expect with gross external injury, like a concussion. We know what bodily functions are likely effected with serious injuries to given regions of the brain. We can see tumors and legions with high definition imaging, but we simply don't understand it well enough to be able to look at a picture or history and accurately predict someone's behavior or thier likelyhood to commit an ultimate act.
Until we understand the anatomy behind why these people do these things, we won't be able understand the precursive symptoms so we can actively intervene before the loss of life/lives.
It's sad whenever these things happen, it breaks my heart. I hope we'll be able to fix it in my lifetime, but I fear the research will require another generation or more. I hope I'm wrong.