41. Justin Snider, Clever HS (MO)

In 2021, a high school student-athlete at Clever High School (MO) walked into the woods near home and hanged himself. He was discovered by his oldest brother. His dad and next-oldest brother pulled him down, followed shortly thereafter by his mom's arrival.

There was no warning. His parents knew he was struggling with school work and that he was using marijuana on a regular basis. He was encouraged often by his family to, as him mom says, "get his head out of his ass," but there was never an inkling that he was at-risk of taking his own life.

His high school baseball coach, Justin Snider, joined the show to discuss what it was like from the moment a school official came down to the field during practice to tell him and the spiral it sent him, and his players, on over the ensuing months. And while it's just one coach, and one team, it provides some insight into how coaches can approach mental health.

You can follow Coach Snider on Twitter @snider_justin.

Some resources:

• Athletes Against Anxiety and Depression Foundation
• Coach Snider's article on Grief and Leadership
• The Mental Health Manual and Companion Journal

 

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