World Mental Health Month is celebrated each October to promote global awareness and advocacy around a topic that years ago many thought was better kept to ourselves than shared with others.
NFL alumni and business partners Ryan Jensen and Garrett Gilkey are among many former players who are aware of the need to address mental health challenges so they do not ruin their lives.
Jensen, who played for the Ravens and Buccaneers (2013-23), officially retired last February. He had planned for some time to enter the construction business after playing but says it still “felt weird” not preparing for camp earlier this summer.
“It was one of those things that I recognized through counselling that I’ve done through my past to be able to figure out,” the 33-year old Jensen recently told The Athletic. “I needed to get that ‘trigger’ to stop affecting me and causing anxiety, depression, and stress.”
“For the longest time I was against going to a therapist and talking. I was like ‘Oh, man, I’ll figure it out’. But after I went and spoke to a therapist and worked through some of the past traumas, it really opened my eyes and my mind that we’re not designed to live that way. We’re not designed to live in constant anxiety and depression and fear of what’s next.”
Gilkey ended his three-year NFL career in 2016 after a knee injury forced him to retire. He has master’s degree in construction engineering and an MBA from Indiana University. He founded (and now co-owns along with Jensen) GILK Design Builders in Tampa, a company that specializes in building luxury homes.
“The more I have walked on my own personal journey,” says Gilkey who played for the Browns and Buccaneers, “the more I’ve seen how important it is for guys to continue to be proactive when it comes to our challenges after our playing days. Life is a balance, and we need to realize the importance of our own mental health and that our own personal wellness is as critical as ever.”
We at NFL Alumni remind our player-members that you may be eligible for up to $25,000 per year for Mental Health Services. If you are an eligible vested former player with questions about this important benefit, we encourage you to call 800-NFL-GOAL (635-4625), prompt 3. It may be very well worth your time!
