I’ve never been prouder to be a hockey fan, or a New York Islanders fans, and that includes all the years they were winning Stanley Cups. Such a strong statement.
“I’m not ashamed to say I’m mentally ill, but that doesn’t mean I’m mentally weak.”
We couldn’t be more proud of you, @RobinLehner. pic.twitter.com/uzWArW2sZx
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) June 20, 2019
It’s such a strong statement to make anywhere, but in the hyper-masculine, and hyper-focused world of professional sports, especially one that has a long history of people playing through physical pain, and being admired for it (Possibly to their own detriment but that’s another discussion), this statement about mental health is something else. As he has mentioned before, he’s not the only player dealing with mental health and addiction issues, and still performing at a high level, he’s just the one who’s been upfront about it. Mental health struggles are real, but they are not a sign of weakness or character flaw. Thank you Robin for showing us that!