Mental struggle

When South Jersey native Tyson Hartnett first hit the basketball courts in fourth grade, he could have had no idea what kind of journey his favorite sport would lead him on.

Now, in a book titled Hoop Dreams Fulfilled: An Athlete's Failure and Redemption on the Journey to Professional Basketball, Hartnett opens up about his struggles with depression and anxiety.

Through most of grade school, Hartnett played multiple sports. When his family moved to Medford, he played for Shawnee High School and found his focus.

"That was when I became really passionate and dedicated to it," he said. "I wanted to get a scholarship to a Division 1 school and play for the NBA."

He did go on to win a scholarship and play for the University of Maine, a Division 1 school, but it wasn't at all what he had imagined.

"It was a really difficult time for me when I realized that I wouldn't get much play time there," he said. He left Maine in 2007 after only two years. After struggling with depression, he transferred in 2008 to Rowan University, a Division 3 school, where he got more time on the court and received All Conference honors. He then went on to play pro ball for two years overseas with Nassjo Basket in Sweden, Tiro Federal in Argentina, and Deportivia Valdiva in Chile.

Studies done by the NCAA and the American College Health Association have found that more and more student athletes - like students in general - are struggling with mental illness.

When he decided to share his experiences in a book, Hartnett didn't realize how difficult it would be. "Going back into my own struggles with depression and anxiety was hard to do. When I failed, I felt like I was nothing. I was so one-dimensional: My whole identity was wrapped up in basketball."

In his book, Hartnett, besides sharing his personal journey, shines a light on the athlete mind-set and how it can cause intense internal pressures many athletes are afraid to talk about.

"In college especially, athletes are overwhelmed with both grades and playing well. They tend to start questioning, 'Am I good enough?'

"Sports are imperfect. There is no perfect game, and this is what leads to depression and anxiety. Athletes are always pressuring themselves to be perfect."

Hartnett writes that athletes need to stop putting so much pressure on themselves, and, instead, spend time cultivating other parts of their lives.

Instead of hiding their fears, he says, athletes should talk about failure as an important chance to learn how to get up and keep going.

"You need to have persistence. Ask yourself, how many times am I going to pick myself up after failure?"

Hartnett worries that, for too long, mental health has been a taboo subject in the sports world. "The focus is always on physical training, on how to perfect your shot, but there are not many resources offered to help deal with the mental tolls of the game."

He explained that besides the pressure they put on themselves, athletes struggle to live up to the expectations of their coaches, teammates, family, and even their local communities.

"It is a huge part of the game, affecting how the players play and how they will react in the future, but it is never really addressed."

He encourages athletes not to be afraid to admit they need help.

"If you don't have someone to talk to, your negative thoughts can take over. Depression is a silent killer, but people are scared to talk about it."

Though his focus is sports, Hartnett hopes to reach anyone who encounters hard times in the pursuit of a dream.

"Keep fighting - whatever it is in your heart. You can't control what you are good at. Basketball always sucked me in. Figure out what you are called to do, no matter what society says, and pursue it."

Hartnett now lives and works in New York City. He also offers training for young basketball players through his website, http://basketballtrainingclub.com/.