By Cindy Boren and Matthew GutierrezOriginal Source: washingtonpost.com

Clint Malarchuk no longer is alone.

The former NHL goalie, widely remembered for the terrifying moment in 1989 when a skate slashed his jugular during a game, has gone public with his daily struggle with depression, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder. He told his story again in a new documentary that debuts this week, putting him in the wave of active and retired athletes detailing their mental-health struggles in an attempt to remove the stigma of asking for help.

“With athletes, we’re kind of depicted as really tough. We do not want to admit that we are struggling in any way because of the stigma. Mental illness is real, and it’s out there,” Malarchuk says in “Headstrong: Mental Health and Sports,” a documentary produced in partnership with Religion of Sports that will air Thursday night on NBC Sports Regional Networks. “Most people think it’s a weakness, [but] you’re not weak. You’re sick!"

Malarchuk, who quickly returned to the ice after his horrific neck injury, said he dealt with post-traumatic stress disorder after the injury, along with an assortment of other problems, including alcohol abuse, depression and...click here to continue reading