Habs Carey Price: “Asking for help is what I needed to do”
Asking for help is sometimes one of the hardest things a person can do. It shouldn’t be, but some people often choose to suffer in silence. It’s something we can all relate to at some point in our lives.
On October 7th, Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price made the conscious decision to enter the NHL/NHLPA’s Player Assistance Program. He got help and I hope more people continue to find the courage to ask.
Price, 34, had surgery in the offseason to repair a torn meniscus. He is expected to resume his career and start his 15th season with the Canadiens, who lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games in the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals.
It’s been a rough offseason for Price. One that even included the possibility of being selected by the Seattle Kraken in the Expansion Draft. He’s currently in Montreal working his way back to playing.
Today, he posted a message on his Instagram, which was shared by the Habs on their website. It’s worth a read.
Carey Price posts message on Instagram
“Over the last few years I have let myself get to a very dark place and I didn’t have the tools to cope with that struggle.
“Last month I made the decision to enter a residential treatment facility for substance use. Things had reached a point that I realized I needed to prioritize my health for both myself and for my family. Asking for help when you need it is what we encourage our kids to do. And it was what I needed to do.
“I am working through years of neglecting my own mental health which will take some time to repair; all I can do is take it day by day. With that comes some uncertainty with when I will return to play.
“I appreciate all of the overwhelming support and well wishes. I please ask that the media and our hockey community continue to respect our privacy at this time. Your support and respect of this so far has been a critical piece to my recovery.”
-Carey