Connect with us

Boston, MA

Boston Red Sox’ Jarren Duran discusses why he revealed suicide attempt

Published

on

Boston Red Sox’ Jarren Duran discusses why he revealed suicide attempt


Editor’s Note: This story features a description of a suicide attempt.

BOSTON — Red Sox star Jarren Duran said that he knew there were hotlines and resources available when he tried to commit suicide in 2022.

He also knew he had plenty of family members and friends who loved him. But he didn’t want to be a burden on them.

“It’s just that when you’re going through it, you just don’t really want to talk about it,” Duran said at Fenway Park on Tuesday. “It’s just like you vs. you and you just kind of shut yourself off from the world. And it’s pretty lonely. The resources were there. You just don’t wanna be a bother. Personally, that’s just what I thought. I thought I was just a bother to talk about it.”

Advertisement

Duran revealed his 2022 suicide attempt in the fourth episode of the Netflix eight-part docuseries’ “The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox,” which was released earlier Tuesday.

“I thought, ‘Why is my life so important to talk about when other people have to go through stuff?‘” Duran said Tuesday. ”There’s people with families, kids. They’re going through stuff. When I put all that stuff in my head, it’s like, yeah, there’s no way I’m gonna bother somebody else with my problems. So that’s what was going through my head.”

Both Duran and his parents released a statement through the Red Sox earlier Tuesday.

“The whole purpose of me sharing is just to get it out there and let people know that they’re not alone,” Duran said. “Even if I can just help one person, it’s meaningful. So I’m just trying to let people know that there’s always help and to make sure that they’re reaching out.”

Duran said “it means a lot” to know the Samaritans Statewide Hotline has received triple the calls since news of his suicide attempt Monday. Several outlets, including MassLive, received a pre-screening and were allowed to write about Duran’s story a day before the documentary was released.

Advertisement

“That was the whole purpose of me sharing,” Duran said. “It’s not easy to talk about. But I just really thought deep down that if I could help at least one person that it was gonna be meaningful and to hear that is awesome. So I hope I can help inspire people to talk about it more.”

Duran’s parents just recently found out about the suicide attempt. They did not know at the time of the Netflix interview.

“They’ve always been really supportive of me,” Duran said. “I know I kind of kept it hidden from them just because I didn’t wanna bother them. And they always saw me as like a hardworking kid who’s doing really good and doesn’t really have anything to bother them. And I didn’t want to change that image that they had of me. So I didn’t really bother ‘em about it, but I was able to sit down and talk to them and let them know. And they’ve been nothing but supportive of course.”

He said it’s not something he thought about sharing when Netflix began filming.

“But the situation just kind of happened, just unfolded,” he said. “And I was sitting there quiet. Didn’t really think that it was a good moment to talk about it. But then … I just thought this could possibly help people out there that don’t really want to talk about it. So I just took that leap of faith and hoped that it was gonna do more good than bad.”

Advertisement

Duran said it’s still not easy for him to reach out for help. He said he “still struggles with it.”

“It’s like trying to tell an alcoholic not to drink,” he said. “I’ve never really been a very vocal person with my feelings. But I have good friends around me that know how to drag it outta me. But I’ve been a lot better.”

He added, “Every day I’ve got to look at myself in the mirror and tell myself how proud I am of myself, even if I don’t feel like it. Just trying to give myself some positive reinforcement.”

He said he encourages everyone going through the same thing to ask for help.

“I know it’s not easy. I know that I never wanted to ask anybody because I always felt like I was a bother,” Duran said. “But I’ve been told by tons of friends and family that it’s never a bother to somebody that cares about you. So if you’re asking somebody that cares for you as much as you care for them, then it’s never gonna be a bother to them to ask for help.”

Advertisement

He said he’s definitely reached out a lot more to friends and family than he used to. He said, “that’s a big thing for me.”

“Even when I tell myself I’m not gonna bother someone with this, I like go back to stuff that I’d journaled before that told me like, ‘Hey, if you ever get into this head space again, make sure you reach out.’ So just reminding myself that it’s important to reach out and just knowing that other people are doing that because I talked about it, it’s really heartwarming and I hope that I can help spread the love that people need to support each other.“

He said his support system “has his back.” He said his teammates “have always been amazing” and supportive.

“And even hearing this kind of stuff, they haven’t changed the way they’ve talked to me or anything like that,” Duran said. “So that’s been the biggest thing. I didn’t want it to be this thing where they like treat me differently. But no they’re still talking smack to me and I’m talking smack back to them and they still have that love language. So it’s been awesome.”

Duran said it’s still difficult these days for athletes to talk about mental health.

Advertisement

“I think it’s still tough to talk about because I’d see people look at us just like we’re like super humans and they can say whatever they want to us and it’s not gonna affect us. And they don’t really realize that we are humans at the end of the day. Fans are still gonna be fans, they’re still gonna chirp us. But like I think that talking about it more we’ll just help athletes talk to other athletes about what they’re going through.”

He said he feels more equipped now to deal with the pressures and the ups-and-downs of being an athlete.

He’s also launching a foundation.

“For me, I just want people to feel like they have somebody to talk to and that we can get them the help they need,” Duran said. “I know I want to focus on everybody, but also the younger generation, because I know growing up I had no idea what was going on. So I feel like if we can help them at a younger age, it just prepares them for their adulthood.”

He said he’s already seen some feedback on social media.

Advertisement

“I’ve seen a couple comments on some of my posts about kids that are like, ‘Hey, like I’m your biggest fan, and knowing that you’re talking about it means I can talk about it.’ So I wanted to say thank you and seeing that kind of stuff like really, really hits deep.”

Duran said he has had younger players in the organization ask him about how he deals with pressure, including some during spring training this year.

“That was like really eye-opening,” he said.

Manager Alex Cora said Monday that Duran sharing his experience will save lives.

“I didn’t really put that into perspective until he said that and I sat back and was like, yeah hearing that people are talking about it more and that could help a lot of people help save their lives,” Duran said. “Just getting out there is, has been really eye-opening and I hope it does. That was the whole purpose of it was to just get it out there. Like I’ll take the media for these people to be able to talk about it on the back end.”

Advertisement

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, you are not alone.

Samaritans Statewide Hotline

Call or Text: 1-877-870-HOPE (4673)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Advertisement

988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Press # 1 if you are a Veteran

The Trevor Helpline

866-4-U-TREVOR (488-7386) Support designed for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth and young adults



Source link

Advertisement

Boston, MA

MLB notes: New Red Sox pitching directors looking to keep pipeline flowing

Published

on

MLB notes: New Red Sox pitching directors looking to keep pipeline flowing


FORT MYERS, Fla. — Over the past few years the Red Sox pitching program has been completely transformed.

Since Craig Breslow took over as chief baseball officer, the Red Sox have gone from one of the worst organizations at developing young pitchers to one of the best, and now the club is overflowing with talented arms who are already making their mark in the majors.

That hasn’t gone unnoticed, and this past offseason one of the people most responsible for executing the club’s turnaround — former director of pitching Justin Willard — was hired away by the New York Mets to be their new major league pitching coach.



Source link

Continue Reading

Boston, MA

Red Sox reliever ‘fired up’ to join Team USA after dominant start to spring

Published

on

Red Sox reliever ‘fired up’ to join Team USA after dominant start to spring


FORT MYERS, Fla. — It’s hard to imagine Garrett Whitlock’s spring getting off to a better start. The Red Sox right-hander made it three straight scoreless outings through the first week of games Saturday by sending down the Minnesota Twins 1-2-3 in the third during the club’s eventual 13-8 win.

Now, Whitlock will get ready to join Team USA ahead of the World Baseball Classic.

“I’m stoked. I’ve been jittery the past two days, like, ‘Oh man it’s almost here,’” Whitlock said. “Now I’ve got to go home, do some laundry and do some packing.”



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Boston, MA

‘We’re honoring Black excellence’: Mass. celebrates leaders of color

Published

on

‘We’re honoring Black excellence’: Mass. celebrates leaders of color


Applause and music echoed through the Hall of Flags at the Massachusetts State House Friday as lawmakers and community leaders gathered for the Black Excellence on the Hill and the Latino Excellence Awards.

The ceremony celebrates Black and brown residents committed to advancing economic equity.

“We’re honoring Black excellence,” said state Rep. Chris Worrell. “When we look at today, this is what it should look like. This is our house. Black people built this house, literally and figuratively.”

Honorees ranged from attorneys to former professional athletes. Nicole M. Bluefort of the Law Offices of Nicole Bluefort said she plans to use her platform to uplift others.

Advertisement

“I will use my advocacy skills as an attorney to move people forward,” she said.

Former NBA player Wayne Seldan Jr. talked about his journey from McDonald’s All American to a full scholarship at Kansas and a professional career.

“You always want to keep striving for continued betterment and for stuff to grow,” he said. “I don’t think there should be mountaintops. I think we should always be striving to keep building.”

The keynote address was delivered by Michelle Brown, mother of Jaylen Brown, who spoke about raising two children as a single mother and the importance of faith, discipline and education.

“There are no shortcuts. There are no guarantees,” she said. “There was faith, there was discipline, and there was a deep belief that education created mobility.”

Advertisement

Speakers emphasized that mobility is strengthened when communities work together for a common good. Bluefort highlighted the importance of mentorship and shared opportunity, while state Rep. Sally Kerans encouraged attendees to stand together across racial lines.

“In this moment, stand with others. Speak up. Don’t be afraid to say ‘That’s not normal.’ Be allies. Be supportive,” Kerans said.

Organizers said the ceremony was not only about recognition, but also about sustaining progress — encouraging leaders and residents alike to continue building toward a more equitable future.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending