Metta World Peace Continues to Be a Mental Health Advocate

Metta World Peace is still delivering his message when it comes to mental health, in an open and deeply honest way. Per the LA Times: “World Peace sat recently in a room at Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA before 13 adults who suffer various mental health disorders. A half-hour later, he gathered with 23 kids with similar issues. World Peace provided them with a simple message: I’m facing the same problems you have. ‘I’m still learning about myself,’ he said. ‘This actually helps me in telling my story so I can continuously improve myself, stay mentally stronger and not let stuff bother me as much as it used to when I was younger. I still make mistakes.’ […] ‘People still see me as erratic and wild at times, but I feel really good with where I’m at right now,’ World Peace told the patients. ‘I still like to have fun and do random things. I’m really comfortable because I address my issues.’ Several minutes passed after World Peace echoed those words, part of a detailed account on how he manages his demons. Dr. Thomas Strouse, medical director at the hospital, then intervened. ‘For those who have never heard Metta talk before, I think it’s so amazing how open he is and how much of himself he’s comfortable sharing with the group,’ Strouse said. […] ‘It’s great he actually goes to hospitals and shakes hands with patients,’ said a patient who says he’s diagnosed with bipolar disorder. ‘It was a very positive experience. It’s helping me get over my stigma.’ World Peace is also trying to get over his. He says he talks with his psychologist, Santhi Periasamy, about everything — frustrations from his play, media scrutiny, his family life, his branding interests. But plenty of the time centered on the aftermath surrounding his incident with James Harden. ‘I was [angry] at how these guys are disrespecting me the last couple of years,’ said World Peace, who averaged a career-low 7.7 points per game on 39.4% shooting last season. ‘I said I’m so furious that I want to bust everybody… She said, Ronny, relax. Just play. Don’t worry about it. Just let the game come to you.'”