Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen posted on his personal Instagram account on Friday that he suffers from bipolar disorder.
A little more than a week ago, Minnesota Vikings staff members, mental health professionals, and local law enforcement all went to the residence of Everson Griffen after the veteran defensive lineman called 911 and made several concerning posts on his personal Instagram account.
On Friday, Griffen made another post on his Instagram account. This time, however, he explained what caused last week’s incident that ultimately resulted in the Vikings putting him on their reserve/non-football illness list.
In his latest Instagram post, Griffen shared with his followers and the public that he suffers from bipolar disorder and it’s something that he has been learning to deal with for several years.
Minnesota Vikings DE Everson Griffen deserves all the time he needs to improve his mental health
What Griffen did on Friday was incredibly brave. He has no obligation to reveal anything in his personal life to the public. But in his post, he stated that he wants to “be an advocate for mental health.”
By revealing that he suffers from bipolar disorder on Friday, he let others who suffer from the disorder that they are not alone. In fact, Griffen is one of millions that currently deal with the effects from bipolar disorder on a daily basis.
In his post, the Minnesota defensive end shared that his struggles with the disorder really began after his mother passed away in 2012.
Moving forward, what’s most important for Griffen is his health so that he can continue to live a long and happy life with his family. If he determines that a return to football isn’t beneficial for him, then so be it.
Griffen will always have a place in the hearts of Vikings fans whether he steps back on the football field or not.