Landon Donovan Does Not Have Shame About His Depression

Retired soccer star Landon Donovan doesn’t shy away from talking about depression — and he hopes other professional athletes will do the same.

Donovan took a break from his professional career in 2013 to prioritize his mental health. Donovan suggested that retired athletes can be especially at risk for depression and anxiety.

“I think our problem is we wrap our identity around what we do and it becomes who we are,” he told The Huffington Post. “So you see a lot of former athletes struggle with this, a lot of athletes that are no longer being recognized for what they did on the soccer field. They’re like ‘Well, what am I now? I don’t have this sport anymore.’”

He said therapy helped him become more open about his mental health, and he encourages others who feel affected to do the same. “I’m comfortable talking about it and I hope that more people will talk about it,” he said.