Vikings' C.J. Ham opens up about mental health and the importance of using his platform for good - CBSSports.com

CJ Ham , a full-fledged advocate for the Minnesota Vikings , uses his platform to discuss important issues to normalize mental health discourse. Ham said that when he grew up, the term "mental illness" had a negative connotation; it was misunderstood in the community where he was.

Looking ahead, he wants to open the conversation անել to make others feel at home.

He said mental health was "not very important" in his early years.

"Yes, we talked about it at school, but very briefly," he said. "It was part of the curriculum, but he does not have to think about it. You're thinking about someone who is not interested in your problems, so put it aside, don't really think about it. "

Now that he knew more about the topic, he realized that it was important to speak clearly about it ացնել to normalize the topic.

He particularly said that men have a hard time accepting problems related to mental health, and as a main reason he noted that men do not want to show "weakness" or "vulnerability".

On a personal level, he says . "As a scoundrel, living with injustice, from childhood to the present day, is burdened by these things. In terms of self-esteem և feeling good enough [they ask you] whether they really care who they are. you are: Who are you":

He added .

"I think this is one of the reasons why men in general do not want to put themselves in that light, because they do not want to see people in their darkest moments ... in places where they need help ... everyone They are fighting against things that can paralyze us. "They are all spiritually different. But seeing that people are affected, that they can go out and share with a world that is vulnerable, they normalize. Children [or others] feel that way, they do not feel alone. ”

He reached a point where his physical health was also impaired, he could not sleep, he had stomach pains, he had hyperventilation from childhood experiences that were not yet clearly expressed.

He did so last year at Augustana College, asking for help - to get help to fight stuttering - from there he never allowed himself to be identified.

"It was something I had defined for so long that it affected my daily life, it affected my interactions with other people," he said.

"And finally, when I was able to take control, I got rid of it. I think this is a big step for all of us - to see what is happening in your life, what you need to do. You are more. than what you can fight. ”

He added. "He has no other power when you come out of the darkness. These opportunities came to me in front of thousands of people, or just to communicate with people, I knew the "no". I could not shed light on it. "Because I said 'yes', I think I'm working, I think God is using my weakness to be one of the strengths of my life."

Even if Gam asks for help, he is better able to control his mental health, it does not mean that he always feels better. He says that there are moments of struggle, but being open about it has had a positive effect on him.

Ham says that all the players: the fans understand that it is difficult to hear և to know his message.

Being able to share his message with others is something he takes seriously.

"We are footballers, we are athletes, but we are much more," he said. "God has given me this platform where I am now to ease the bigger issues that this world needs to hear and really focus on."

She wants to know that they are not alone when a child feels the same way, encourages others to talk, and normalizes conversations.

Ham enters his sixth season in the NFL in 2016 as a non-Viking player. In 2019, he prepared the Pro Bowl.