Johnny Manziel, the former Cleveland Browns quarterback, is the focus of a new Netflix documentary, “UNTOLD: Johnny Football.”
The film explores Manziel’s meteoric rise as a teenage sensation, his journey from college to the NFL, and the personal struggles that nearly ended his life. Manziel’s story is filled with highs and lows, from his legendary high school career to his wild lifestyle off the field.
But this is really a story about mental health. Johnny tried to die by suicide, and his Bipolar Disorder and addiction issues derailed any chance at a comeback. He called it “direct self-sabotage.”
“When I got to Cleveland, I wasn’t in this head space to be able to just go play football,” Manziel told Insider. “I was struggling to get out of bed in the morning. I was struggling to fight thoughts and feelings that I had never really had before in my life.”
Money, fame, success – none of it matters in the face of decaying mental health. It’s an important lesson that all of us should consider: get help as soon as we need it.
Each week, ICBA’s Jordan Bateman reflects on what we’ve learned as we participate in ICBA’s Workplace Wellness Program. ICBA’s Workplace Wellness Program is helping more than 100 companies and more than 10,000 construction professionals better understand mental health. This program is free for all ICBA members – check out icba.ca/wellness for details.
