Star TCU guard Hailey Van Lith mentioned she was suicidal and “at the depths of wanting to die” in candid feedback Saturday about her psychological well being journey.
Moments after No. 2 TCU punched its ticket to the Candy 16 within the NCAA girls’s event with an 85-70 victory over her former Louisville workforce, the 23-year-old Van Lith brazenly recalled her struggles within the highlight and being “heavily medicated.”
“The way that I got exposed to the media and social media at such a young age, I really struggled with mental health things,” Van Lith mentioned in a video captured by Sports activities Illustrated.
“Once I was youthful and in faculty, I used to be suicidal, I used to be closely medicated and I felt trapped. And you’ll by no means know as a result of I used to be having a ton of success on the court docket, however internally, and in life typically, I used to be able to be accomplished.
“And so that’s what I mean when I speak on suffering and pain. It’s like I didn’t even want to live. So to come from that to this is incredible.”
Van Lith defined she closely relied on her religion to get her via that point.
“I’ve been praying all year, like God, I know you’ve given me this testimony to share it with the world and shed your light and I think this is the year and this is the moment,” mentioned Van Lith, who posted a double-double on Saturday. “He desires folks to know my story and the way.
“He’s just taken me literally from the depths of wanting to die to this moment of loving life. And even if basketball went away today, I truly would want to be here and love these people.”
Van Lith, who has 1.2 million Instagram followers and practically 500,000 TikTok followers, grew to become one of many faces of the NIL period.
She rose to reputation throughout her three seasons with Louisville, the place she led the Cardinals to a Ultimate 4 look and two Elite Eights.
Van Lith transferred to LSU for the 2023-24 season and teamed up with Angel Reese, the No. 7 general choose by the Chicago Sky in final yr’s WNBA draft.
Though the Woman Tigers reached the Elite Eight, Van Lith wasn’t a match for coach Kim Mulkey’s system.
Van Lith discovered success at TCU in her fifth and ultimate yr of eligibility.
She not solely helped the Horned Frogs win the Huge 12 title, however was named the Huge 12 Newcomer of the Yr, Participant of the Yr and the convention event MVP.
TCU will tackle No. 3 Notre Dame Saturday in Birmingham, Al.
For those who or somebody is affected by any of the problems raised on this story, name the Nationwide Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or textual content Disaster Textual content Line at 741741.
