COLUMN: As I See It – Carey Price’s best save yet

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This article was published 21/10/2021 (1286 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Over the course of his stellar career, Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price has made a lot of amazing saves, but his best save, his most important save, likely came off the ice.

Carey Price has stepped away from the game of hockey to take care of his mental health. While no details have been given (it is no one’s business why Price has taken a leave), his wife said on social media that Price was taking a break for the sake of his family.

Saving your family versus saving a puck; it’s not even close in the big picture of life.

And as brave as Price has been throughout his career, helping Canada win Olympic gold and almost single-handedly taking the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup finals, putting his family – and his health – ahead of his career is easily the biggest save he’s ever made.

While there still is a societal stigma about mental health, the world of sports has been a leader in bringing world-wide attention to a disease many people have problems talking about. 

Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all-time with his mind-blowing 28 Olympic medals (23 of which are gold) fought depression, anxiety and thoughts of suicide and is now an advocate for mental health resources.

At this summer’s Olympic Games the best gymnast in the world Simone Biles shocked the sporting world when she sat out some events to take care of her mental health.

And the world’s second-best tennis player, Naomi Osaka, stunned everyone in sports when she pulled out of the French Open and then withdrew from Wimbledon because of depression and anxiety.

Kudos to Manitoba’s own Olympian Clara Hughes who has done tremendous work for many years bringing attention to her own struggles with depression and in breaking the stigma around mental health. She was a pioneer in terms of high-profile athletes going public with their mental health issues.

The lesson here seems crystal clear: if the top athletes in the world can suffer with depression, anxiety and mental health, then all of us can.

According to an article in the Harvard Review, while “one in four individuals will confront a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year, research also shows that the stigma surrounding mental health is still pervasive and continues to erect a barrier to seeking help.” 

If the best athletes on the planet need help despite their huge success, global fame and unimaginable wealth, us mere mortals should take note.

The advice we should all take to heart comes from Michael Phelps, the greatest Olympic athlete ever:

“I struggled with anxiety and depression and questioned whether or not I wanted to be alive anymore. It was when I hit this low that I decided to reach out and ask for the help of a licensed therapist. This decision ultimately helped save my life. You don’t have to wait for things.”