A few days ago, we lost another student. He was a friend, a boyfriend, and a senior just months away from graduating. He took his own life. His name was Kosta Karageorge and he was a defensive lineman at Ohio State. The name may not be familiar to you, but his story is one of many describing yet another victim of mental illness.
You probably saw reports for the missing Ohio State player last week and if you’re anything like me, you may have feared the worst when you read his text to his mother from last Wednesday, the day of his disappearance. He heartbreakingly texted his mother, “I am sorry if I am an embarrassment but these concussions have my head all f***ed up.”
They are questions remaining about when and how Karageorge got the concussions that may have led to him ending his own life. Tom Ryan, the Ohio State wrestling coach, told the Columbus Dispatch that Karageorge, didn’t have any documented concussions as a wrestler” during his three years with the team.” He was a member of the wrestling team for three years before he walked onto the football team.
The football team is not discussing Karageorge’s medical history, but his sister, Sophia, said he suffered from a concussion a month earlier and told The New York Times he had suffered “at least four or five” concussions in his lifetime. Because of the concussions, a neuropathologist will examine Karageorge’s brain to see if there is a link between his suicide and depression and the sports-related concussions he sustained.
“He had a pretty bad concussion last fall and he told me about differences in his behavior,” Sophia said. “Just, like, confusion, disorientation, being unable to focus, mood swings — not feeling like himself, basically, not feeling quite right.”
The Franklin County Coroner, Anahi Ortiz, said the neuropathologist will determine if there are any abnormalities or “signs of traumatic brain injury.” Sports-related injuries, especially concussions, have a documented history of dangerous mental health side effects. A quick search of “football players who committed suicide” pulls up a list of 29 names of NFL players. That doesn’t include college or high school athletes, of which the number is surely much higher.
Frightening statistics published by Frontline reveal the danger that concussions pose. The nation’s largest brain break, reports that they found degenerative brain disease in 76 of the 79 former NFL players it examined. That’s more than a twofold increase in the number of cases of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
According to Frontline, “CTE occurs when repetitive head trauma begins to produce abnormal proteins in the brain known as ‘tau.’ The tau proteins work to essentially form tangles around the brain’s blood vessels, interrupting normal functioning, and eventually killing nerve cells themselves. Patients with less advanced forms of the disease can suffer from mood disorders such as depression and bouts of rage, while those with more severe cases can experience confusion, memory loss and advanced dementia.”
CTE is of particular concern for athletes and, as of right now, it can only be diagnosed posthumously. Researchers tested the brains of 128 players who played the game at some level, whether that be professionally, semi-professionally, in college, or in high school. Of those players, 101 players (just under 80%) tested positive for CTE.
NFL legends who were posthumously diagnosed with CTE include Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson, Hall of Fame Pitsburgh Steelers center Mike Wesbter, Junior Seau of the San Diego Chargers, former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker, Jovan Belcher, and numerous others. Seau and Duerson both killed themselves with shots to the chest, in order to preserve their brains for study.
Karageorge shot himself in the head, but his brain will still be examined for evidence of brain damage. No one has officially reported that the neuropathologist will look for symptoms of CTE, but with a history of concussions it is a fair assumption.
Whether or not Karageorge’s death is linked to CTE, he still was likely suffering from depression, a common mental health disorder affecting 9% of Americans. According to Everyday Health, those diagnosed between ages 18 and 24 are at the greatest risk for self-harm and there’s a 10.9% chance of depression. 30,000 suicides occur yearly in the US, more than 2/3 of which involve depression.
Neither his teammates nor his roommates recognized that Karageorge was in a dangerous mental state. According to teammate, Michael Bennett, “We knew he had a lot of concussions. But you never knew he was depressed or anything like that.”
“I think he was one of the most positive out of everybody, which goes to show you can’t tell when something sneaks up. There’s no way to notice it.”
Karageorge is the latest victim of suicide, but high profile deaths like those of NFL players, college athletes, and stars like Robin Williams need to teach us a lesson. Depression and mental illness are huge issues, which are particularly prevalent among our age group. Karageorge was 22 years old. He had caring friends, was a great athlete, attended a top notch university and he still took his life. We need to do more to reduce the stigmatism surrounding mental illness.
These stories are widely covered by the news because they deal with individuals of some recognition, but there are three suicides for every two homicides in the U.S. This is a saddening statistic. A week for mental health isn’t enough. This is a terrible issue-affecting students everywhere. Whether someone is shooting up schools or taking their own lives, we need to focus on the real issue, which is mental health.
Every life has value and no one should ever feel like their life is worthless. Together, we can work to improve mental health and de-stigmatize mental illness. In the wake of tragedy, there is room for reflection, healing and growth. Let’s do more than add Karageorge’s name to a list of victims of mental illness, let’s create a legacy of healing that seeks to prevent suicide and promote mental health. Together, we can save lives.
If you, or anyone you know is suffering from depression, suicidal thoughts, feelings or desperation or hopelessness, please know that there is help available. There are crisis walk-in hours Monday through Friday from 9:00am-4:00pm at St. Liam’s. If you need help outside of those hours, you can call the 24-hour Urgent Crisis line at 574-631-7336 for help. You can also call the Nation Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. To seek treatment for mental or physical health concerns, make an appointment with the University Counseling Center at 574-631-7336.
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