Like Many of Us, Gus Kenworthy Is Struggling with Depression During the COVID-19 Lockdown, and Has Some Tips

Like many of us, Gus Kenworthy is struggling with depression during the COVID-19 lockdown. Kenworthy encourages everyone to reach out to friends if they’re experiencing mental-health issues right now. In a post on Instagram Wednesday, Kenworthy apologized for being “MIA,” saying he’s been struggling with depression and revealing that his family recently went through two major health scares.

Kenworthy’s post in full reads: “I know I’ve been MIA for the past month and a half but tbh this whole thing has been really hard on me. I know has been a struggle for most everyone. One thing I’ve learned is that just because we’re in isolation it does NOT mean that we’re alone. We really are in this together! If you’re struggling w/ depression and you’ve been feeling down and worthless know that I have been too. In school, in sports and in life I’ve always hated asking for help because I’ve wanted to seem strong, brave, tough, self-assured, etc but I’ve realized that sometimes you just need help and when you do you need to ask for it. It’s literally what friends are for. Swallow your pride and text a friend saying “I’m feeling really down, can you talk?” It will help. I’m thankful for my friends and all of you for being my support system; I’m thankful for the people who have used this time to create fun, funny content that has made me laugh and offered levity amidst the darkness; I’m thankful for my health and, most especially, I’m thankful for my family. We had some serious scares this past month and it’s put into perspective, more than ever before, the importance of family. My 9-month-old nephew, Bodhi, had a bad cough/ fever and started having trouble breathing. He ended up being flight for life’d to Denver Children’s Hospital to be put on a respirator and spent a week in the ICU. Shortly after he returned home my 4-year-old niece, Bobbie, fell ill and had to be rushed to the same hospital to undergo two emergency surgeries. They’re both finally home again and recovering! I’m incredibly thankful and forever grateful to our healthcare workers on the front line of this pandemic. I can’t show my gratitude enough but, in an effort to help out, I’ve decided to join Cameo to make personalized videos for anybody who wants one w/ 100% of my proceeds going to #FirstRespondersFirst to raise money for the doctors & nurses risking their lives to save others. If you wanna buy a video there’s a link in my bio and I’ll match whatever we raise up to $10,000! Thank you all for staying home to help flatten the curve and also for reading my unsolicited novel of a caption. Let’s #BeatTheVirus ❤️.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B–g5cEAr57/?utm_source=ig_embed

Kenworthy launched a fundraiser to benefit First Responders First and says he’ll donate all proceeds from his personalized Cameo videos to the charity, and match the gift up to $10,000. Kenworthy’s Cameo page is here.