Statement from Senator Codey on Charles Barkley’s comments on Mental Health

LIVINGSTON – Today, Senator Richard J. Codey (D-27) released the following statement about recent comments made on ESPN by Charles Barkley, Basketball Hall-of-Famer and NBA Analyst, regarding players Mental Health.

·       Barkley attacked NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for addressing depression and anxiety in the league:  “Listen, he’s a great guy. But that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard any commissioner say. These guys are making 20, 30 40 million dollars a year. They work six, seven months a year. We stay at the best hotels in the world. They ain’t got no problems. That’s total bogus.”

·       Barkley then went directly after Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving:  “I don’t know him that well. He seems like a good kid. But I’ve never seen a person so miserable. To have so much success. To have the world in the palm of his hands.” he said. “He’s gonna make 40, 50 million dollars a year for the next 10, 15 years. He’s already won a world championship. He’s in the movies. But he’s got to be one of the most miserable people I’ve ever seen.”

“The comments that Charles Barkley made show the huge problem we face in the fight against stigma,” said Senator Codey. “The idea that an athlete is immune from struggling with mental illness just because of their stats, how much money they make, or how many fans they have is just ignorant.”

“We work hard to make sure that young people know that there is no shame in having feelings of depression or anxiety and seeking help. But this message is true for everyone.  As we have seen many times over the years, fame and success can’t erase mental illness and can even make things worse.  In our culture of social media and 24-7 judgement, the last thing we need is a respected figure belittling others’ struggles.”

“As Commissioner Adam Silver has realized, mental health issues don’t discriminate.  It doesn’t matter how successful a person may be professionally or financially.  I commend the steps he has taken to bring the problem out into the open and fight the stigma that keeps many people from getting help.”