Depression: Lansberg & Wade Belak

[Bullseye]

The Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to get healthy on and off the ice with all management changes and Babcock is in the centre of that.

He is helping off the ice this past month specifically working in Saskatchewan promoting mental health awareness and Michael Landsberg is right beside him.

Landsberg has a very good piece on TSN today about his relationship with Leaf nice guy/tough guy Wade Belak who took his own life - worth the read - and if it hits a chord inside you don't be afraid to let someone know.

http://www.tsn.ca/depression-and-my-friend-wade-belak-from-sept-13-2011-1.340782

Click to read more...

 

[Gary Nylund]

Sad story, good article. When I read stuff like this it only strengthens my opinion that fighting should be banned hockey. The article didn't mention it but I'd be very surprised if the brain trauma from frequent blows to the head didn't play a role here.

RIP Wade!

 

[TootooTrain]

Lansberg and Babcock have been good spokesmen for addressing mental health issues in canada. If you're suffering inside, always always remember it's OK to talk about it.

 

[The Magic Man]

I always thought his 'incident' was accidental. If not this is too bad. He always portrayed himself as a happy fella. That's sad and it's a great thing to talk about it like this. Bring it out in the open and discuss things instead of bottling it up. It can certainly save lives.

 

[pheasant]

Lansberg and Babcock have been good spokesmen for addressing mental health issues in canada. If you're suffering inside, always always remember it's OK to talk about it.

Well said. Get help, get support, and find a method of dealing with the problem. I have helped some friends fight depression and had other friends that suffered alone, as I found out later.

Finding a way to cope is hard. Someone I respect said 'nothing works for everyone, but something works for you.'

Lansberg is one of the best guys out there for this kind of thing. If I remember correctly, he has freely/publically given out his number and said that anyone struggling can give him a call and talk it out.

 

[Bullseye]

'nothing works for everyone, but something works for you.'

Bravo - thanks bud.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Well said. Get help, get support, and find a method of dealing with the problem. I have helped some friends fight depression and had other friends that suffered alone, as I found out later.

Finding a way to cope is hard. Someone I respect said 'nothing works for everyone, but something works for you.'

Lansberg is one of the best guys out there for this kind of thing. If I remember correctly, he has freely/publically given out his number and said that anyone struggling can give him a call and talk it out.

Well said!

 

[TheTotalPackage]

He always portrayed himself as a happy fella.

Unfortunately what's shown on the outside is the complete opposite of what is felt on the inside. Comedians for example, an industry where suicide rates are generally higher, are a perfect example of this.

 

[Deebo]

A part of the link that should be quoted for emphasis:

Depression is a disease. It's not an issue or a demon, although it may act like one. And if you want to honor Wade's memory, do it this way; never ever tell someone to snap out of it. And never ask anyone, what do you have to be depressed about? Start accepting depression as a serious and sometimes fatal illness.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Unfortunately what's shown on the outside is the complete opposite of what is felt on the inside. Comedians for example, an industry where suicide rates are generally higher, are a perfect example of this.

Exactly! Much was written about this when Robin Williams died. These was even a comedy club in LA who offered free psychiatric counselling to all the comics who performed at his club. Very nice gesture IMO and showed the owner to be not only compassionate, but very knowledgeable on the subject of depression and the tendency of comedians to suffer from it.

 

[TheProspector]

This is a phenomenal essay.

 

[ULF_55]

Thought this was worth a read ...

https://x.com/i/web/status/1830268416025829466

Wade Belak’s friendship, personality, selflessness and authenticity had a profound effect on my life.

We’d spend off days on weekends together in our backyards. Our kids would play together, swim together. Our wives usually had to drive home.

No one laughed like Wade. No one drank coffee or beer faster than Wade. No one helped others like Wade. No one loved his wife and kids more than Wade. Wade was a great big self aware, selfless softy.

He loved people. He loved animals. And he loved farting in a car then locking the windows. And he had this confidence in who he was, sans ego, that doesn’t exist in many people. But never abused his privilege.

He used it to help others. Playing in the NHL was a means to an end. It was just part of his journey to the destination of being a goat farming financial planner.

He loved being around happy people and was never negative, always quietly positive and hopeful.

My sons have reverence for his memory. He was larger than life and they liked it when he came to their hockey practices. He was “Uncle Wade” who was pretty good at hockey too.

He loved reading about the Kennedy’s and financial planning and was one of the most financially literate people I’ve ever met. He loved to learn. He was the calmest person in the room in every room he was in.

He knew who he was and everyone felt safe around him. Not because he could fight. People felt safe around Wade because he never judged anyone, always advocated for kindness. The right thing and people good to other human beings.

I remember these things 13 years after we lost him because those are the only things that matter. I’ll see you again, sir. Until then, thank you.

 

[rumman]

Sad story, good article. When I read stuff like this it only strengthens my opinion that fighting should be banned hockey. The article didn't mention it but I'd be very surprised if the brain trauma from frequent blows to the head didn't play a role here.

RIP Wade!

I read a brain book a few years back (I think it was called the ever changing brain.) and the author said heading a soccer ball was detrimental to your brain health so it’s pretty hard to go thur life and not injure your mental health………..

 

[ULF_55]

I read a brain book a few years back (I think it was called the ever changing brain.) and the author said heading a soccer ball was detrimental to your brain health so it’s pretty hard to go thur life and not injure your mental health………..

Yes, there were some rules here, not sure if still in effect, that kids under the age of X were not to head the ball.

We had one kid on my son's team "U15 ish" who was doing heading drills (from corners) with a concussion and I was assistant coach and tried to stop that but the head coach insisted, as did his parents, that he should continue., Maybe they had too many concussions?

Heading a ball during a game is quite different than spending 30 minutes continuously heading the ball.

I know too soft, we should have no concern about the other 50-70 years of life!

 

[rumman]

Yes, there were some rules here, not sure if still in effect, that kids under the age of X were not to head the ball.

We had one kid on my son's team "U15 ish" who was doing heading drills (from corners) with a concussion and I was assistant coach and tried to stop that but the head coach insisted, as did his parents, that he should continue., Maybe they had too many concussions?

Heading a ball during a game is quite different than spending 30 minutes continuously heading the ball.

I know too soft, we should have no concern about the other 50-70 years of life!

People live longer now, the effects probably didn’t show up because society didn’t live as long on average……..

 

[PuckMagi]

The article also says he was on anti-depressants for the last 4-5 years. While I understand these pills help some people, they can also make people suicidal. I personally don't believe that the current conventional approach to treating depression works all that well where they keep putting people on these SSRI drugs and having them talk to someone once a week. So many people never get off these drugs and they essentially take them indefinitely. It also seems like when you try to get off them is when it really causes problems.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I read a brain book a few years back (I think it was called the ever changing brain.) and the author said heading a soccer ball was detrimental to your brain health so it’s pretty hard to go thur life and not injure your mental health………..

I heard that quite some time ago and sure, it's hard to go through life completely avoiding any risks, ill effects etc. That said, heading the ball is an integral part of soccer whereas hockey without fighting would still be hockey.

 

[The Shadow]

Interesting that Babcock was helping with mental health but from many stories I’ve read or heard he was a big cause of mental health issues for players

The only person I’ve ever heard say anything nice about him was Brad May who said Babcock let his son join the wings practice and set up a stall and everything for him.

Everything else has been not so nice

 

[tmlms13]

I think I read that with soccer if you're prepared to get hit or intending to head the ball it doesn't have the same brain damage.

Even in a fight your still not "prepared" like you would be doing headers in soccer

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

I force myself shower and change my clothes about once a week now whether I think I need to or not.

That's a MASSIVE improvement from where I was ten years ago. The medication and not drinking helps. But I've also given my life purpose by working seven nights a week split between a homeless shelter and alcohol treatment centre.

Breaking the cycle is hard but not impossible and I've seen thousands upon thousands of success stories for proof.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

Turn to page 112 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous and follow the instructions provided by the first three words.

The answers to all your problems start there.

I wasn't sure where to put this but I felt it was important to get the message out and this seemed the most appropriate spot. The guy in the apartment directly below mine decided to use fentanyl yesterday and went into the nods while cooking and started a fire. Maybe the smoke detector would have woken him up if he hadn't taken it out and put it in the fridge.

The smoke was billowing out of his place like what you see in a cartoon.

He must have been laying there for a while. Because he died of smoke inhalation. Almost took the rest of us in the building with him.

I hate my life but I'm still in it for the long run.

The government's position on drugs is harm reduction for users so long as you aren't hurting others. The real truth is those choices you make aren't just gonna affect you but everyone you know and even some you don't. You might not think anyone cares if you end up dead on the floor but chances are you're wrong.

And if you take someone else with you at the same time you're definitely wrong.

 

[ULF_55]

The government's position on drugs is harm reduction for users so long as you aren't hurting others. The real truth is those choices you make aren't just gonna affect you but everyone you know and even some you don't. You might not think anyone cares if you end up dead on the floor but chances are you're wrong.

Provincial governments are in charge of healthcare, including Mental Health.

I had written quite a bit more but (worked in health care and worked with addiction personnel) deleted it so not to derail with facts ... just know it is your provincial representatives that you would address for these issues.

 

[Hellcat]

I hate my life but I'm still in it for the long run.

The government's position on drugs is harm reduction for users so long as you aren't hurting others. The real truth is those choices you make aren't just gonna affect you but everyone you know and even some you don't. You might not think anyone cares if you end up dead on the floor but chances are you're wrong.

And if you take someone else with you at the same time you're definitely wrong.

Dude I'm sorry to hear that you feel that way. Send me a PM if you ever want to chat privately. I've been there in my younger years.

My perspective on addictive drug users is complicated but at the end of the day, their rights don't supersede my rights. I'm sad/ mad / disappointed when I walk down my main street and see multiple people lying on the sidewalk in a state of drug induced Nirvana, unable to move because they are so high. I get they are addicts and I get they don't have control of their actions but at the end of the day as a society we need to have standards, we shouldn't normalize this behaviour by accepting that behaviour in public is normal or reasonable.

One major issue with addiction and IMO the biggest issue is, the parties responsible for Policing, Mental Health and Addiction services on a Federal, Provincial and Municipal level dont talk with each other in an effective manner or have a sensible unified strategy. The cops here wont touch an addict in the streets, I've been told directly by a cop, what is the point the judge is just going to let them go and they will be on the streets the next day, so why do the paper work when I already know the outcome is pointless? So cops dont do their job, judges dont do their job, so how do we as a community clean up this mess? I think a smart balance of therapy and accountability is needed, right now we want to treat addiction with free food, free housing and free money and no accountability. Fear of consequence is lacking.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

Provincial governments are in charge of healthcare, including Mental Health.

I had written quite a bit more but (worked in health care and worked with addiction personnel) deleted it so not to derail with facts ... just know it is your provincial representatives that you would address for these issues.

That's right.

We operate under an umbrella with a service manager responsible for each region. The problem with Ontario's health care system is fragmentation. There are different providers for different needs and each provider can't contact the other without consent so the standard of care isn't a streamlined process.

There's also conflicts of interest with doctors recieving kickbacks from big pharma who have a vested interest to see this stuff on the streets.

Dude I'm sorry to hear that you feel that way. Send me a PM if you ever want to chat privately. I've been there in my younger years.

My perspective on addictive drug users is complicated but at the end of the day, their rights don't supersede my rights. I'm sad/ mad / disappointed when I walk down my main street and see multiple people lying on the sidewalk in a state of drug induced Nirvana, unable to move because they are so high. I get they are addicts and I get they don't have control of their actions but at the end of the day as a society we need to have standards, we shouldn't normalize this behaviour by accepting that behaviour in public is normal or reasonable.

One major issue with addiction and IMO the biggest issue is, the parties responsible for Policing, Mental Health and Addiction services on a Federal, Provincial and Municipal level dont talk with each other in an effective manner or have a sensible unified strategy. The cops here wont touch an addict in the streets, I've been told directly by a cop, what is the point the judge is just going to let them go and they will be on the streets the next day, so why do the paper work when I already know the outcome is pointless? So cops dont do their job, judges dont do their job, so how do we as a community clean up this mess? I think a smart balance of therapy and accountability is needed, right now we want to treat addiction with free food, free housing and free money and no accountability. Fear of consequence is lacking.

Looks to me like they are decriminalizing more and more.

Harm reduction and rehabilitation costs less than prosecution and incriminalization with better results. But that also makes it more transparent. It just gets pushed down the social ladder by people who don't give a shit that make all the rules anyway.

It's always somebody else's poblem until it isn't.

 

[no2ninja]

I met Lansberg at a Raptor game once, gave him a nod and a hey, as I walked by, he looked at me like I had leprosy. I've done this to many famous people before and always got a courteous hi and nod back.

I then went to sit at my courtside seat which was better than his, he did a double take my way, as if he was shocked. I used to go to Raptor games on the regular, all the security and restaurants know me, I don't even dress up for it, most of the time shorts and t-shirt is fine by me as I just want to feel comfortable. Even Derozan when he was with the Raptors would nod and smirk my way when he was shooting around before the game, recognizing me as a committed fan.

Due to how he reacted, I always thought he was a prick, and remember Dana White roasting him as count Dracula, that always made me laugh. That said, maybe he wasn't mentally all there, maybe he thought I was going to pat him on the back and start talking about my cottage and family. Famous people don't really like to be touched, you can imagine how many people want to shake their hands and where that would go if they did so. I wasn't looking to make a buddy, nor did I extend my hand, just recognized him as the guy from TSN that did OTR.

I think depression is a mixed blessing, I feel a lot of it stems from what you derive your identity from. I have always seen it as life telling you that you need to make a change, you can dwell on it and do nothing... but don't expect it to go away, or take it as motivating factor to bring new experiences into your life. I think people in the past did not have time to be depressed, they had to get up when the sun came up, and work the fields, till the sun went down, then they were so tired that their mind had no choice but to fall asleep only to repeat the same the next day. These days people have so much spare time on their hands and many do not know how to use it productively, they drink or abuse substances or engage in counterproductive activities that take away from their self worth.

I have two little girls and the older one is super popular, and the younger one not so much, but she is crafty and has amazed me by how her brain works at such a young age. She gets picked on by her older sister and teased, and I tell her guess what the popular kids hardly ever become anything special, they are always seeking the approval of their peers, judging others, playing the popularity game... the best lesson you can learn, as a kid is to not follow the crowd... the earlier you can be fine with your unique outlook and be perfectly fine with it the sooner you will shine and attract others towards you. When I look back at those who succeeded when I was growing up, the moguls and the famous people were the loners. They were the people that stayed in their room putting in 10000 hours into making music, into their drawing, into computer programming... the cool popular people were always busy hanging out with each other, doing the easy thing, and sure some of them became real estate agents, lawyers, but most of them really did little to stand out. The freaks I read about in Forbes, or see fronting successful bands.

So please don't look at depression as some sort of hindrance, it actually may be a gift, telling you are not doing what you should be doing.