Aggies head coach Blake Anderson wants people to know that “mental health matters.”
(Vasha Hunt | AP) Utah State coach Blake Anderson reacts as Alabama takes the lead during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022.
A Utah football team is dedicating its upcoming home matchup against UNLV to mental health awareness. Reason: Head His coach has endured great grief and loss in his life and feels his story is exemplary.
In a video shared by the USU football team, Blake Anderson revealed that his 21-year-old son Kayson committed suicide on February 28. This is the first time a coach has revealed the cause of his son’s death and its impact on the family.
“Our lives changed forever that morning,” said Anderson. “Me and part of our family have been lost and will never come back.”
Anderson urged anyone struggling to “reach out” for help.The coach said several USU players and staff shared testimonials about their mental health journey over the course of the week. I said I will.
Anderson got a call from his brother Brian, who said his son didn’t show up for work that day and no one had been able to find him. I was laughing.
Anderson questioned why he hadn’t seen his son in pain and how he could have helped him more. He said no. He always said he was fine.
That’s the point of the video where Anderson called people to action.
“If you’re hurting, dealing with dark thoughts, feeling depressed, dealing with grief so heavy that you don’t know what to do, reach out.” There are people who want to help you, there are people who God wants to carry your burden into your life, and they would rather carry your burden than carry your coffin. is.
“Mental health is important.”
Anderson’s family has been dealing with grief in recent years. His first wife, Wendy, was diagnosed with “very rare and aggressive breast cancer” six years ago.
“My wife ultimately lost that battle,” said Anderson. “There is grief in our family like we’ve never seen before. We really didn’t know what to do with it.”
Anderson said his family relied on his faith and those around him to cope and get through his wife’s death. Brian was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer a year later.
