State of Utah Coach Blake Anderson released a video Monday announcing that he and the Aggies program are dedicating this week’s game against UNLV to mental health awareness. The effort will include various messages on the program’s social media accounts, offering information on resources for those in need and testimonials from players and staff about their experiences and struggles with mental health.
Speaking on camera, Anderson began the round of testimony by sharing the story of his son, Cason, who died by suicide in February.
“Somewhere in the middle of the night, when everyone was gone, Kason went to a place that was so dark, he didn’t want to do it again,” Anderson said. “He didn’t want to be here anymore… Our lives changed forever that morning. A part of me, a part of our family is gone and will never come back.”
Anderson, 53, said he and his family never saw any indication that Cason was struggling and have been dealing with questions about why and how that could have happened ever since.
“He never let any of us know,” Anderson said. “There were no red flags. There were no warning signs. He always made sure to tell you he was fine. If you’re hurting, if you’re dealing with dark thoughts, if you’re depressed, if you’re dealing with grief so bad you don’t know what to do with it: Please lie down.
Anderson and his family have experienced tragedy before. Anderson’s first wife, Wendy, was diagnosed with breast cancer while he was at Arkansas State, and she died in 2019. His father died about six months after Wendy’s death, and his brother was diagnosed with colon cancer thick about a year later.
Anderson noted that the willingness to discuss mental health issues has not been common for people of his generation. His hope is that by shedding light on the issue, the state of Utah can help change the stigma surrounding it.
“I grew up in an era and a time where as a man you didn’t show that you were hurting. You didn’t show that you were in pain. You didn’t cry. It was the ‘Get up, dust yourself off, stick it up, get back to work’ kind of mentality,” Anderson said. “Unfortunately, I probably spent most of my life as a father and as a coach probably teaching my kids the same way. …
“There are people around you who want to help you. There are people God has brought into your life who want to carry your burdens. They would rather carry your burden than carry your coffin. Mental health issues. I encourage you, if you or someone you know is hurting, stand up, speak up, and do whatever you can to help them find the resources they need. Remaining silent is very costly.”
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