“We always gotta do our best to really pay attention when people are in pain.”
If you’ve grown up watching Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson on the WWE then you’ll know that he’s always been incredibly charismatic, confident and cool.
The People’s Champion absolutely electrified sold-out arenas on a weekly basis and he continues to fill movie theatres but this might not have been the case according to the man himself.
Johnson has previously been very honest about his battles with depression, anxiety, and some personal demons that he faced during his early 20s when his football career began to flounder.
If you’ve ever suffered from depression or know a friend who has then this clip from OWN is equal parts poignant, reassuring and moving.
Despite the fact that he’s arguably the biggest action star on the planet and an outside contender for the US 2020 presidential race, Johnson is still a strong advocate of various mental health causes.
In fact, the actor has posted a very personal story on Instagram in an effort to remind people that they’ve got to help others, recalling the time he did the same for his mother Ata.
In his show hit HBO show Ballers, a character has recently died by suicide.
Johnson used this moment to remind his 99.5m followers that the scene had “got me thinkin’ though ’bout how many of us have been affected by suicide of our friends, family” and how”we always gotta do our best to really pay attention when people are in pain. Help ‘em thru it, get ‘em talkin’ about the struggle and remind ‘em that they’re not alone.”
In case the Instagram post isn’t clear, here’s what it says:
“Not your typical scene on our comedy #ballers, as I cracked a beer open toasting my character’s brother, William who committed suicide. Got me thinkin’ though bout how many of us have been affected by suicide of our friends, family. Struggle and pain is real. We’ve all been there on some level or another. My mom tried to check out when I was 15. She got outta the car on Interstate 65 in Nashville and walked into oncoming traffic. Big rigs and cars swerving outta the way not to hit her. I grabbed her and pulled her back on the gravel shoulder of the road. What’s crazy about that suicide attempt is to this day, she has no recollection of it whatsoever. Probably best she doesn’t. Shits of a scene to shoot – didn’t like it – but it did reminder that we always gotta do our best to really pay attention when people are in pain. Help ‘em thru it, get ‘em talkin’ about the struggle and remind ‘em that they’re not alone. We got lucky that day when I was 15 and that ain’t always the case.”
If anyone’s feeling emotionally distressed or in need of some help, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK.
