Editor’s Note: We at Lacrosse All Stars would like to offer Makenzie Mason and all others affected by mental illness our support. We know it is difficult, but we encourage all of those affected by mental illness to reach out to loved ones and people they trust for support. Be kind to everyone. You never know what someone is going through.
An op-ed appeared on ESPNW’s website on Monday, December 3, entitled, “Florida lacrosse player Makenzie Mason: ‘I have to keep fighting'”. The piece was an editorial written by University of Florida Women’s Lacrosse player Makenzie Mason, who wrote about her struggles with anxiety and depression.
Mason details her journey of how depression and anxiety began setting in for her during her middle school years in California. For her, it worsened when her family moved to Tennessee as her father had accepted the head football coaching position at Vanderbilt. Eventually, she became a student-athlete at the University of Florida, where things unfortunately didn’t improve for Mason.
After her first attempt at trying to take her own life, Mason knew she needed help. She has spent time on and off at Florida during her recovery It has been a long road for Mason to recover, but things are starting to look up for the promising young 19 year-old. She is currently back at Florida working on her academics, and looks to be slowly acclimate herself to lacrosse once again during her recovery.
Mason’s message is this, “Do not get discouraged. I have been where you are. It is dark and you can feel all alone. Depression steals all the hope we have. Depression has taken many things that I love away from me, but I have to keep fighting. Keep fighting for your happiness and your life. Just keep fighting.”
To read the full article on ESPNW, click here.
For resources on dealing with mental health issues, please visit the National Institute of Mental Health, or MentalHealth.gov. To reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in a time of crisis, please call 1-800-273-8255.
