Hooped Up

We say there is such an unknown element to mental health in this country, due to the number of people who are not diagnosed. This element also makes it a tough demographic to support. I agree.

However, it saddens and frightens me to know that in this situation all the decision makers involved have been informed of all the medical dynamics, and yet still refuse to adhere to medical sensibility. In hindsight of the recent tragedies in this country, that had mental illness variables, you would think it would encourage people to act more proactively in that arena.

You would think that decision makers who are not well informed about mental health, would take the consultation and recommendation of those who are. You would think we would start to do everything possible to not let the tragic consequences befall us first, before we ask the logical question, “why?”, “who knew?” “how could we have helped?. Why not take a proactive approach of “who knows?” “how can we listen?”, “how can we support now?”

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After coming to an arrangement with the Rockets to deal with his anxiety issues. Royce White returned to practice with his teammates and will be taking a bus to road games pending league approval.

“I’m excited, it’s just a different plan than I’ve ever had going into a season, said White. So I’m happy that the Rockets are willing to work with me, and I’m excited to see what I can do under the new circumstances.”

His new coach Kevin McHale admitted Royce would have a challenging rookie season dealing with his aerophobia, but let it be known the Houston organization was behind him.

“Royce is going to have a little bit of a different path in the NBA,” McHale said. “If your choice is to have a 10-hour bus ride, or an hour flight, everyone would want to take an hour flight. He’s just going to have to work his way through all that stuff. We’re here to help him and support him as much as we can, but he eventually has to be responsible to your team and your teammates. That’s the biggest thing.”

Royce has long struggled with an anxiety disorder, but his college averages of 13.4 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 5 apg, 1.2 spg and 0.9 bpg kept the Rockets interested enough to select him 16th overall in the 2012 draft.

Just before the draft took place, the good folks from Grantland hung out with talented prospect Royce White for 24 hours. Blessed with size and skill. White was also stricken with generalized anxiety disorder, which he deals with on a daily basis. Do yourself a favor and watch this great piece.