Professional athlete, artist, and brand owner, Graham Howes, opens up about his mental health struggles and the stigma within the industry that makes athletes feel trapped, ashamed, or too competitive to seek help. In July 2019, Graham was diagnosed with Major Depression, a turning point in his life. After years of confusion, anger, and being in a very dark place, he could finally make sense of why his mind had turned on him. A mind that had always been powerful, creative, and great had suddenly stopped functioning. It’s incredibly scary when something he relied on, controlling every aspect of his life, suddenly fails him. He fought it for so long, trying to figure it out, until it fully exhausted him, leaving him crippled on a couch for two weeks. The article continues with Graham’s story and struggles, along with alarming facts about top elite athletes and extreme sports superstars. "He looks at the extreme sports industry and the role he’s played in contributing to the negative stigma as an athlete, content creator, and brand owner. He wants to find solutions to break down these walls and inspire others to take the right steps to help people struggling with mental health feel safe and less alone." As a male in his 30s, suicide is the leading cause of death—shocking, right? “Andy Irons died alone after suffering with bipolar. Sunny Garcia, a world champion surfer, was in a coma after a suicide attempt. XGames Gold Medalist Dave Mirra died by suspected suicide,” and the list goes on. “I had my 1st panic attack while kiting on a long downwinder. It felt like someone had stuck their fist down my throat, I couldn’t breathe or get air into my lungs, my heart was pounding through my wetsuit.”