Aaron Holmes 
Jarren Duran’s mental health story reveals a harsh truth: the Boston Red Sox outfielder attempted suicide in 2022, yet transformed into an All-Star with 21 home runs and 111 runs scored by 2024. His remarkable turnaround highlights the hidden battles that exist behind baseball’s glamorous facade.
His story’s effect reaches well beyond baseball. The Netflix docuseries “The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox” featured Duran’s experience, which led a Boston-based suicide prevention center to receive three times their normal communications. His bravery to share these mental health challenges has started significant conversations across Major League Baseball.
This piece follows Duran’s incredible path from his lowest point to his inspiring comeback. His life changed through daily journaling, personal mantras, and a growing network of support that helped reshape his world on and off the field.
The Pressure Cooker: Jarren Duran’s Early MLB Struggles
Jarren Duran’s first steps into the major leagues put baseball’s most passionate market’s weight right on his shoulders. This promising outfielder had blazed through Boston’s farm system. Yet he soon found himself gasping for air in the big leagues’ unforgiving waters.
Fan Expectations in the Boston Market
Boston’s sports culture creates an intense environment that young players don’t see anywhere else. Duran soon found that the mood could change faster among Fenway’s faithful. “They love you one day, and then the next day they have to grind on you a little bit,” Duran recalled 1. The constant swing between love and criticism became too much to handle for a rookie trying to find his way.
Some fans crossed troubling lines. Duran felt players were treated like “zoo animals” at times 1. Personal attacks hurt him the most. “Sometimes some fans take it too serious. I feel they cross the line when they start talking about my mental health—making fun of me for that,” Duran said. “Calling me weak. It just kind of triggered me when you start talking about mental health because I feel like that is just part of it—that loneliness” 1.
Boston’s demanding sports media added another layer of pressure. Red Sox manager Alex Cora put it best: “The pressure to perform at this level is unique. Nobody knows what a professional athlete has to go through” 2.
Transitioning from Minor League Success to Major League Challenges
Baseball’s developmental hierarchy hit Duran hard. The numbers tell the story – during 2021 and 2022, as a 25-year-old rookie, he hit just .218 with a .612 OPS and five home runs in his first 91 MLB games 3. These stats fell nowhere near his minor league numbers or what people expected.
Baseball experts know this tough jump well. “You’re going from a place where there’s a few guys who have played in the big leagues, some people who might one day, to every single person is a big-leaguer and there are no breaks, there are no easy at-bats,” one MLB manager explains 4.
The mental adjustment makes things even harder. “This is commonly referred to as the largest transition in the minors, and with good reason too,” a baseball development expert points out. “You have to bring your A-game every single night. And you have to be serious about being a professional baseball player—the competition is too talented for most players to succeed on sheer talent alone” 5.
The Weight of Self-Criticism
Duran’s harshest critic lived inside his own head. The outside pressure was bad enough, but he beat himself up worse. “I couldn’t deal with telling myself how much I sucked everyday,” Duran admitted. “I was already hearing it from fans. And what they said to me, [it’s not like] I haven’t told myself 10 times worse in the mirror” 1.
Athletes often fall into this trap of extreme self-criticism. “Athletes often set high personal standards and can be their harshest critics, leading to significant mental strain when they fall short” 6. This negative self-talk usually hurts performance instead of helping, creating a downward spiral.
Duran’s self-criticism reached rock bottom. “I would think every day, ‘I can’t f***ing do this,'” he confessed 3. His 2022 demotion to the minor leagues broke him further: “I’ve been pretty low this year. It has been a struggle to stay here [in the major leagues]” 3.
Outside pressure mixed with inner demons created the perfect storm for Duran’s mental health struggles. One teammate later reflected after learning about Duran’s battles, “Many athletes at different levels, their self-identity is wrapped up in them being an athlete” 7. Performance struggles can crush someone psychologically when their whole identity hangs on being an athlete.
Reaching the Breaking Point: Duran’s Mental Health Crisis
A darker reality lurked beneath Duran’s poor performance stats. His struggles on the field masked an internal battle that pushed him close to despair.
Signs of Depression That Went Unnoticed
Duran showed classic depression symptoms throughout the 2022 season. These remained hidden from the public eye. “I find it hard to reach out to people, because I don’t want to bother other people with my problems,” Duran admitted. “I kind of just build it up inside myself, which obviously makes everything a lot worse” 8.
Baseball culture faces its biggest problem with players who don’t seek help. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one in five Americans deals with mental illness each year 9. Players often keep their struggles private. A former player noted, “There are guys in every clubhouse hiding it every day” 9.
Duran fell into a dangerous pattern of isolation. “I don’t really talk to my family about my low points because I’m so closed off to everybody,” he revealed 10. His negative feelings grew stronger as he cut himself off from others.
The Suicide Attempt That Changed Everything
Duran’s mental health reached its lowest point in 2022. He shared his suicide attempt during an interview with Netflix’s docuseries “The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox.”
“I got to a point where I was sitting in my room, I had my rifle and I had a bullet, and I pulled the trigger and the gun clicked, but nothing happened,” Duran recounted 11. His words revealed how deep his mental health crisis had become.
Months of self-hatred and despair led to this moment. “I couldn’t deal with telling myself how much I sucked every f***ing day,” he explained 8. The pressure became too much, leading to what he described as “a pretty low time” when he “didn’t even want to be here anymore” 11.
Finding A Reason to Continue
The gun’s failure to fire seemed like a miracle to Duran. “To this day, I think God just didn’t let me take my own life, because I seriously don’t know why it didn’t go off” 11.
This moment made Duran think about his purpose. “I took it as a sign of, ‘I might have to be here for a reason’, so that’s when I started to look myself in the mirror after the gun didn’t go off. I was like, ‘Do I want to be here, or do I not want to be here?'” 11.
Duran started developing ways to cope. He found that writing in a journal helped him process his emotions 12. He also created personal reminders. “On [the tape on] my left wrist, I write, ‘[F—] ’em,’ because it’s me telling my demons, ‘You’re not going to faze me,'” Duran explained. “And on my right wrist, I write, ‘Still Alive’ because I’m still here and I’m still fighting” 11.
These practices helped Duran find his strength again. Mental health professionals see this pattern often with athletes battling depression: recovery starts when they acknowledge their struggles and find ways to cope that work for them 13.
The Turning Point: Seeking Help and Support
Duran faced his darkest moment and made a life-changing decision to get professional help. He stopped isolating himself and welcomed the support from Major League Baseball and the Red Sox organization.
Breaking the Silence About Mental Health Struggles
Getting help marked a big change in Duran’s life. “I’ve definitely reached out a lot more than I used to, that’s a big thing for me,” he explained. “Even when I tell myself, I’m not going to bother with this, I go back to stuff that I journaled like, ‘Hey, if you ever get into this headspace again, make sure you reach out'” 14.
Players speaking openly about mental health shows a dramatic change in baseball culture. Players used to “tough out” their problems 15. Players with mental health issues were often called “crazy” by team personnel just a decade ago 9. The stigma is lifting now as more players talk about their experiences.
Professional Resources That Made a Difference
MLB has greatly expanded its mental health resources. The current simple agreement requires all 30 MLB teams to provide mental health services for players 16. Players can now see licensed psychologists 10.
The Major League Baseball Players Association started an independent Mental Health and Wellness Program in 2023. This program runs separately from MLB and individual clubs 17. Dr. Jonathan Fader leads this program that gives players privacy and easy access – crucial for players worried about how getting help might affect their careers.
“This parallel offering will create as much comfort and trust as possible for players as they work on achieving maximum mental health and wellness,” explained Dr. Fader 18.
How the Red Sox Organization Responded
The Red Sox take player mental health seriously. Since 2015, they’ve offered complete mental health services for players and staff:
- Mental health screenings
- Crisis response protocols
- Educational programming
- Access to both in-house care and trusted outside specialists 10
The organization launched “Changeup the Conversation” in 2025, a game day mental health program that helps New England mental health organizations 19.
Manager Alex Cora helped create a supportive environment. “Obviously, I was aware of it, and since I learned about it, I’ve given him support, love, and somebody that he can talk to,” Cora said. “That door is always open”10.
Duran’s teammates supported his openness too. Rob Refsnyder, one of Duran’s closest friends on the team, noted: “I know it’s going to affect a lot of people, a lot of younger people that are probably a little bit embarrassed or scared or they don’t really know who to talk to about how they’re feeling” 14.
Professional resources and personal support gave Duran the foundation he needed to rebuild his mental health and baseball career.
Building a New Mindset: Duran’s Recovery Strategies
Duran rebuilt his mental strength after his suicide attempt by combining personal practices with professional help. His path to recovery focused on three strategies that changed how he dealt with mental health challenges.
Daily Journaling as Emotional Release
Duran found journaling to be a powerful way to release emotions. Research shows that Written Emotional Disclosure (WED) helps people process emotions from difficult events that shape their identity 20. Athletes can use journaling as a private space to develop the mental strength they need to excel 21.
“Even when I tell myself I’m not going to bother with this, I go back to stuff that I journaled like, ‘Hey, if you ever get into this headspace again, make sure you reach out,'” Duran explained. This practice let him work through his feelings rather than push them down.
Journaling helped Duran track his progress and take care of his mental health 21. Writing his thoughts on paper gave him a better point of view, built his resilience, and kept his mindset positive—skills he needed in his baseball career.
Personal Mantras and Reminders
Duran created strong mantras to remind himself of his resilience. “On my left wrist, I write ‘[F—] ’em,’ because it’s me telling my demons, ‘You’re not going to faze me,'” he revealed. “And on my right wrist, I write ‘Still Alive’ because I’m still here and I’m still fighting.”
Research confirms that positive self-talk helps athletes succeed 22. Like other elite athletes who use phrases such as “relentless” or “I got this,” Duran’s words became his anchor during tough times.
Reaching Out Instead of Isolating
Breaking his pattern of isolation became Duran’s biggest breakthrough. “I’ve definitely reached out a lot more than I used to,” he noted. This change was vital because isolation often makes athletes’ mental health struggles worse 23.
Baseball players can access various support resources. MLB’s 24/7 helpline provides professional intake consultants around the clock 24. Peer support groups give athletes a community where they can talk about personal and professional challenges, which helps reduce the loneliness many feel under athletic pressure 23.
Duran’s mix of journaling, personal mantras, and reaching out to others became the foundation of his amazing comeback—both mentally and athletically.
From Personal Pain to Public Impact: Duran’s Mental Health Message
Jarren Duran turned his personal mental health struggles into a beacon of hope. He shared his darkest moments in a Netflix documentary that struck a chord with fans across the nation and sent waves of inspiration through baseball circles.
The Netflix Documentary Revelation
The fourth episode of Netflix’s “The Clubhouse: A Year With the Red Sox” titled “Still Alive” showcased Duran’s mental health experience. He opened up about his 2022 suicide attempt and his battle with depression 1. “Talking about this wasn’t easy, but it felt important,” Duran explained. “I trusted the Netflix crew, and I knew that if I was going to share this, I had to be real about it” 25.
Red Sox president Sam Kennedy highlighted Duran’s bravery: “Jarren’s decision to share his story is an act of courage that goes way beyond baseball. By opening up, he’s showing others who may be struggling that they’re not alone and that asking for help isn’t just OK, it’s essential” 1.
Immediate Response From Struggling Fans
Duran’s story made an instant difference. NESN’s Tom Caron told Duran that Samaritans, a suicide prevention organization, saw their calls triple the day after his story aired 25. “It means a lot. That was the whole purpose of me sharing,” Duran responded. “To hear that is awesome, and I hope I can inspire people to talk about it more” 25.
Mental health experts recognize the value of athletes sharing such stories. “It can really help change and save someone else’s life,” said Abbie Rosenberg, Mental Health Collaborative’s founder 25.
Plans For A Mental Health Foundation
Duran wants to formalize his advocacy work, following other MLB players who faced similar challenges. Former MLB player Brandon Marshall created a foundation after revealing his borderline personality disorder diagnosis 26. Similarly, Hayden Hurst and his mother started the Hayden Hurst Family Foundation 27. Duran now looks to create structured support for others fighting these battles.
His simple yet powerful message remains: “I know it’s not easy and I never wanted to ask for help from anybody. But I’ve been told by a ton of friends and family that it’s never a bother to somebody that cares about you. It’s important to reach out” 25.
Conclusion
Jarren Duran’s incredible experience shows how mental health challenges don’t have to define an athlete’s career, despite their devastating impact. He went from a rookie who thought about suicide to becoming an All-Star outfielder, proving how life can change when you ask for help and build strong support systems.
Duran’s courage has reshaped the scene way beyond the baseball diamond. His Netflix documentary appearance and public advocacy have sparked vital conversations about mental health across professional sports. His story has pushed countless others to ask for help, shown by the spike in crisis hotline calls after he shared his experience.
Baseball’s culture keeps evolving as old mental health stigmas fade away. Players like Duran who speak up about their challenges help future athletes feel less isolated in their darkest times. His message stays powerful – asking for help shows strength, not weakness, and could bridge the gap between despair and hope.
Duran’s story teaches us that athletic success means nothing without mental wellbeing. His new mental health foundation and ongoing advocacy work will create positive changes in baseball and beyond. He turned his personal struggles into hope for others fighting the same battles through his bravery and honesty.
References
[1] – https://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/mlb/jarren-duran-mental-health-suicide-attempt-netflix-doc-1.7504336
[2] – https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/jarren-duran-suicide-attempt-alex-cora-boston-red-sox-mlb/
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[20] – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7728796/
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