The Tragedies Need to End...

I've been reading a lot about the recent deaths of professional athletes.  The really sad thing is that a lot of these deaths have been because of suicide.  Now I know, as a former athlete (although never close to the professional level) that athletes put a lot of pressure on themselves to be great, not only in their sport but in their life.  That pressure mounts when you are told that you are good at what you do.  You constantly want to be seen in that way.  So when you feel like you aren't living up to your expectations, it hits you very hard.  Something needs to be done.  We need to find a way to help these athletes.  Before competing in any sport, you have to have a physical check-up, but what about a mental one?  Does that not affect your game as well?  Athletes are dying, by taking their own lives.  Is there no way to help them?  To see that there is something wrong?  To get them help?  It is tragic, and if it can some how be prevented, it needs to be.  These deaths not only affect their family and friends, but the whole sports community.  We need to stop the pain.  We need to prevent this.  We need to help.