Terry Trafford’s tragic death must prompt OHL to evaluate mental health strategy

[doniceage]

No one has all the answers about what happened to Terry Trafford. The death of the 20-year-old hockey player, though, surely means the Ontario Hockey League's approach to mental health failed, even if it's not completely broken.
On Thursday afternoon, Trafford's autopsy report concuded that he had died from asphyxiation and it was determined to be self-inflicted.
Whether Trafford had been medically diagnosed with depression or was taking medication to manage it is beside the point. Not all with depression and its related disorder, social phobia (commonly called social anxiety), handle it with meds, speaking from my experience. The depression aspect was raised by the Toronto native's girlfriend, Skye Cieszlak, and men tend to be more likely to confide their fears to their partner, mother or sister. Perhaps establishing, or denying, depression is paramount for the sport's gatekeepers while emotions are so raw and the grief-stricken are looking for someone to blame.


http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/jrh...173717775.html

[mooneyes]

Unless a kid, as they are drafted at 15 years of age ( kinda crazy! ) and leave home a year later is a can't miss NHL-er....I wouldn't let my teenage son go the junior route...The NCAA is getting better and better with their hockey programs and getting a FREE education/degree and the social supports that a large school would provide would be more healthy all way round. And if a 19 year stands out like a sore thumb like Trouba, he will get drafted anyway and can chose to leave for the big $$$$.

[ravens_creed]

The OHL is responsible for running a successful hockey league, not pretending it has a psych degree. Let's not overreact in the wake of a sad, but isolated, incident.

I have and do suffer from depression off and on, so it isn't that I'm trying to be insensitive here at all.

[mooneyes]

Arghhh matey, me reacts the way me wants to react...I personally think this is Not an isolated incident, just one we know about....and if the OHL is a business, profiting from the dreams, hard work and talent of teenage boys...Than that is F'd up....The first priority of adults, regardless of the environment, even a business, is to protect and enhance the mental, physical and spiritual growth and health of minors...not abuse it to line the pockets of businesMEN and the Ego's of old has been or never were old coaches trying to make it to the NHL....Every team should employ a psychologist for these young student/athletes.

The other option, since this is a business, say to the 16 yr old draftee, and their parents, ok, your hired, negotiate a yearly salary like any other normal job,...But if you fail to meet expectations, we will fire you at anytime, so be prepared to have college $$$ to get a life! In fact, that should be part of the agreement, we want you on our team to help us win, but if it turns out your not right for the job, we will release you, but with an exist program in place and a full scholarship to the college of your choice. J-M-H-O

[centrehice]

Did his team keep his discipline "In House" ?, or did they embarrass him by taking it Communal? They have a ton of questions to answer if they tried to humiliate him publicly.

I am just asking a question, so a positive response is all I am looking for, as I don't know the whole situation.

[mooneyes]

Did his team keep his discipline "In House" ?, or did they embarrass him by taking it Communal? They have a ton of questions to answer if they tried to humiliate him publicly.

I am just asking a question, so a positive response is all I am looking for, as I don't know the whole situation.

I could be wrong, didn't read the article, just from what I remember from the TV story, he was openly suspended a week for marijuana use, and than, cut after that.....if that is what happened....I will let you draw your own opinion of it all...for me, yes human nature is want to find blame, but in the big picture, hopefully something will be learned and positive Changes will occur.

[centrehice]

I didn't know that the team had cut him. I thought he was suspended. That's unfortunate all-around.

[ravens_creed]

Obviously if it's a more common problem, something should be done, absolutely. I just wouldn't want something to be done because they felt that in the wake of what happened here, they had to do something, that's all.

[the_nange]

Depression/mental illness in the locker room is something that's not isolated to the OHL, or even the sport of hockey. I'd recommend "Bigger Than the Game" by Dirk Hayhurst if you want to read about a fringe-MLB player's battle with depression and the general locker room/athlete attitude towards mental illness is. Change also needs to come from within the locker room, and not just "top down" solutions such as the OHL mandating things be changed.