How do you deal with stress? In Nigeria, swinging a sledgehammer in a ‘rage room’ helps

How do you deal with stress? In Nigeria, swinging a sledgehammer in a ‘rage room’ helps

LAGOS, Nigeria — How do you deal with stress? In Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, people are finding their reset button in a “rage room” where they pay to smash electronics and furniture with a sledgehammer as a break from the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. The Shadow Rage Room, apparently the first of its … Read more

Breaking community defends b-girl Raygun and is hopeful for return to Olympic program

Breaking community defends b-girl Raygun and is hopeful for return to Olympic program

PARIS — The breaking community wants the world to give b-girl Raygun a break as the Paris Olympics wrapped up. The sport made its Olympic debut in Paris — it might never be back — and one of the lasting images was the performance of an Australian b-girl known as Raygun who did a “kangaroo … Read more

Skye Blakely ‘shut down’ after the 2021 Olympic trials. A mental coach helped bring her back

Skye Blakely ‘shut down’ after the 2021 Olympic trials. A mental coach helped bring her back

FORT WORTH, Texas — Skye Blakely didn’t want to hear it. Just like most teenagers whenever their parents offer to help. Stephanie and Steven Blakely approached their youngest daughter twice in the aftermath of the 2021 Olympic trials — a meet that ended with the 16-year-old’s left elbow requiring surgery, ending any shot she had … Read more

Skye Blakely ‘shut down’ after the 2021 Olympic trials. A mental coach helped bring her back

Skye Blakely ‘shut down’ after the 2021 Olympic trials. A mental coach helped bring her back

FORT WORTH, Texas — Skye Blakely didn’t want to hear it. Just like most teenagers whenever their parents offer to help. Stephanie and Steven Blakely approached their youngest daughter twice in the aftermath of the 2021 Olympic trials — a meet that ended with the 16-year-old’s left elbow requiring surgery, ending any shot she had … Read more

French athletes at Paris Olympics will receive better mental health protection

French athletes at Paris Olympics will receive better mental health protection

PARIS — French athletes at the Paris Olympics will be offered better protection for their mental health, with priority given to curbing online harassment and cyberbullying. France’s Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra and Secretary of State for Digital Affairs Marina Ferrari have been discussing ways to ensure mental health is looked after at the July 26-Aug. … Read more

French athletes at Paris Olympics will receive better mental health protection

French athletes at Paris Olympics will receive better mental health protection

PARIS — French athletes at the Paris Olympics will be offered better protection for their mental health, with priority given to curbing online harassment and cyberbullying. France’s Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra and Secretary of State for Digital Affairs Marina Ferrari have been discussing ways to ensure mental health is looked after at the July 26-Aug. … Read more

NHLPA unveils mental health initiative to help hockey players learn more, watch for warning signs

NHLPA unveils mental health initiative to help hockey players learn more, watch for warning signs

Whenever Blake Wheeler endured mental health challenges in his hockey career, he felt better when he talked about them and sought help. When the NHL Players’ Association introduced a pilot program to teach the basics of mental health, Wheeler was on board to give it a try. On Wednesday the union unveiled its First Line … Read more

Zac Efron and Lily James on the simple gesture that frames the tragedy of the Von Erich wrestlers

Zac Efron and Lily James on the simple gesture that frames the tragedy of the Von Erich wrestlers

Zac Efron didn’t realize how much he needed a hug. He’d transformed himself into a mass of muscle and repressed emotion to play professional wrestler Kevin Von Erich in the new film “The Iron Claw.” It was a taxing role and unlike anything he’d done before, both physically and psychologically. He often found himself with … Read more