Must Read: Christina Kim And Other Golfers Who Battle Depression

There is a very powerful December Golf Digest story by Stina Sternberg that's a powerful, informative but in no way maudlin read (the print issue should hit your mailbox any day if it hasn't already, and the iPad edition is out).

Though Kim is the focus (and kudos to her for sharing her story to overcome the stigma attached to admitting issues with depression), she's certainly not alone.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 14.8 million American adults--or 6.7 percent of the U.S. population--suffer from Major Depressive Disorder, and more than 30,000 Americans commit suicide every year. "It's a huge medical illness on the order of cardiovascular disease and diabetes," says Dr. Michael Lardon, a San Diego-based clinical psychiatrist who specializes in working with professional athletes and has been treating tour players, including half a dozen major champions, for 21 years. (This is the first year he has no LPGA Tour patients, but he currently works with 10 players each from the PGA and Web.com tours.) "Unfortunately, it lives in the background."

Comments

[Stephen W]

As someone who is fortunate to suffer only occasional, but not clinical, depression I feel very much for those who do. Can only hope Miss Kim and other like her get the help they need and return to something approximating normality (whatever that truly means) in their lives.

[StephenP]

Neglecting mental health and delegating to second class medical status in the past has not helped those most in need. Modern pharmacology, when the right drug is found for the individual, can do wonders. Removing all stigma through education and making sure mental health insurance is on par with other medical insurance is the key. The ACA addresses some of these issues.

The pervasive self reliance, individual maverick meme does not help many in thes matters. Treatment and social connection are both essential legs to real success.

Good luck to Christina Kim. I always thought she was a happy go lucky, fun person. I had no idea what was behind such a sunny personlality. She will now get lots of support that her struggle is in the open.

[digsouth]

Up~down~up~down~up~dow....... The unevenness of lives with even mild mental health issues can drive one to tip over on a given bad day. The hope that mental health will be treated for the disease it truly is brings hope to me, as I have seen the suffering of a friend with mild MH problems, and the bad days, and the sad, scary phone calls, where , hell, I don't know what to say to her....

the stigma must go, and the problems should be attacked.

Recently, at Halloween, TMC showed a Karloff classic~ ''Bedlam'', where mentally ill people were watched and laughed at by those willing to drop tuppence for the ''entertainment/horror of it all. Man's inhumanity to man-God, how frightening...

Wishing Kim,Etc successes.

[johnnnycz]

A slippery slope it is indeed...dealing with depression.

I was "officially" diagnosed with some form of it many years ago (OK...8). I went on some pink pills, that were working for about a week, then they stopped and gave me even bigger mood/emotional swings. So I tossed em in the trash can after the 2nd prescription refill...talk about a ride "down-up-down-up-etc"

The solution was to actually stop and listen to the negative demons and figure out that they're telling me to get out of the office IT cubicle farm...you're a golfer John!!!

So I left the IT world behind, started up a temp-gig at a new Nevada Bobs helping folks but mostly just BS'ing about golf and clubs and stuff until I got something going in CZ, sold everything basically, and I feel great...err...."better". I still have my dark moments, but not nearly as frequently. When I start to feel it coming, I just go for a walk/Bike ride/quick-9.

I hope CK can again find happiness in her life by being thankful for all she has....and realize deep down how HAPPY it can be to chase a ball around green fields for a living. There are worse things to do for a paycheck.

[elf]

Depression is a powerful disease, and kudos to Christina Kim sharing her story and Stina doing a piece on depression. But I wish that the main human face of the disease on tour, wasn't someone who was choosing not to get treated. To many people already believe that they can beat this alone (or with friends). You wouldn't treat your own knee injury, you trust a professional - depression is the same thing.

[Buffett]

A classmate of mine was always laughing and joking around. Years later he shot himself in front of his young son. No one would have guessed. Depression is all around us, but is often not detectable until some precipitating event. Good luck Christina.

[DTF]

johnny, I'm glad you figured out what you like to do, and went and did it! As simple as it sounds that's a tough thing to pull off and very few people manage to do so. Keep on keeping on johnny!