Bell Let’s Talk: Kenny Blackman Jr. Talks Mental Health and Sport

Julianne Jones

On January 25, the Trinity Western University Spartans helped promote the mental health campaign, Bell Let’s Talk Day. In an effort to bring awareness to mental illness in Canada, the Spartans encouraged their teammates, peers, and fans to help end the stigma surrounding mental health.

Sprinter for the track and field team Kenny Blackman Jr. has developed a mindset that transcends the misconceptions about mental health. Being a long-term athlete, Blackman has an inspiring perspective on mental health that beautifully exhibits the purpose of Bell Let’s Talk Day. By encouraging his community to find positivity in times of turmoil, Blackman shows us the importance of supporting others and promoting openness toward the conversation around mental health.

In an interview with Mars’ Hill, Blackman shared his perspective on Bell Let’s Talk Day and its growing importance, stating, “The day itself is a celebration of acceptance, and it acknowledges mental health as an important topic. For me, this topic has hit home over the years, and overall, I’m very grateful that mental health is being acknowledged and addressed in our society.”

Blackman shared that his mental health has fluctuated throughout the years. He admits that coming to terms with your mental health is a difficult thing to do. During the pandemic, Blackman had to learn to accept his feelings at the time. He explained,“I finally started to acknowledge that my mental health was suffering at that time. I was struggling a lot with self-identity and finding my purpose. Pre-pandemic, I would brush off those issues and continue going on with the day. The pandemic gave me time and created an opportunity for me to address those issues and work on them.” Taking time to reflect on his mental health, Blackman has approached his career as an athlete with a new perspective. thoughts can dictate your mental health and that the best way to minimize them is by fighting back with positive thoughts. Blackman explained this perspective in relation to sport, saying, “Giving yourself the affirmations and positive thoughts actually do help, and I’ve experienced this myself. That’s why I encourage that for others. In game, or in life itself, I think [positive thinking] is what helps us get through.” Based on his personal experience and the way this mindset transformed his mental health, Blackman aspires to see his peers practice the same habits.

In Blackman’s first year at TWU, he had a very successful rookie season. He won Canada West for his main event in the 60m and was named Rookie of the Year. Reflecting on the success of his first year, Blackman stated that “after my first year, I put a lot of pressure and expectations on myself to perform at that same high level.” Because of this, Blackman felt that his identity depended on his label as an athlete. “I came into Trinity with a lot of people who knew me from elementary and high school. A lot of people just knew me to be an athlete, and ultimately, it was challenging. I didn’t have the foundation and knowledge of my mental health to be able to deal with that. I would second guess myself a lot and would question if I am actually the athlete they viewed me as.” Despite the struggle between identity as an individual and as an athlete, Blackman is even more inspired to help others find their importance.

The motto that Blackman has been living by is “the power of positive thinking.” He shared how negative

Hoping to project the power of positive thinking on others, Blackman ensures that he is a support to his teammates. As a fifth-year athlete, he feels a certain sense of responsibility to encourage his teammates in their athletic and personal endeavours. Blackman shared his hope for his teammates, sharing that “I have experienced the journey that some of my teammates are on right now. It’s easy for me to meet them at that level and walk them towards steps of positivity and gratitude. When I first came in, I was aware of my emotions but I didn’t have the skill to manage them properly. After a lot of trial and error, I have been able to get more of a grasp on how to come out on the other side of certain obstacles.” Through this, Blackman shows us that you can use your experience to inspire others in their journey through mental health.

With the discussion around mental health becoming more and more prevalent, Blackman demonstrates the importance of talking about your experience and being a light to others. As the various pressures of life weigh you down, encourage yourself and others to exercise the power of positive thinking as Blackman has. This way, we can continue the conversation and create a supportive community of students, athletes, professors, and administrators at TWU.