Jarren Duran on sharing suicide attempt story in Red Sox Netflix series: "I had to be real about it"
Jarren Duran said opening up about a past suicide attempt in a new Netflix documentary on the Boston Red Sox "wasn't easy, but it felt important."
In the fourth episode of The Clubhouse: A year with the Red Sox, which was released Tuesday, Duran revealed he attempted to take his own life during a difficult stretch in the 2022 season.
Duran released a statement through the Red Sox Tuesday morning about his decision to go public.
Jarren Duran statement
"Talking about this wasn't easy, but it felt important. I trusted the Netflix crew, and I knew that if I was going to share this, I had to be real about it," the outfielder said in his first comments about the documentary.
"A few years ago, I found myself in a dark place, but I'm still here, and I'm so lucky I am. And if my story can help even one person, then it was worth telling. It's that ability to help, to reach those who feel alone, that motivated me to tell my story."
His parents, Octavio and Dena Duran, also released a statement.
"As parents, there's nothing harder than knowing your child was in pain. We only recently learned the full extent of what Jarren went through, and it was heartbreaking to hear. We are beyond grateful that he is still here, that he has found the courage to keep going, and that he is using his voice to help others. If his story can help even one person, then it was worth sharing. We are incredibly proud of the man he is today and love him more than words can say. We will always be in his corner," they said.
Duran broke out for the Red Sox with an incredible season in 2024. He made his first All-Star team and was named MVP of the All-Star Game when he hit a game-winning homer for the American League. He received MVP votes at the end of the season after slashing .285/.342/.492 and leading all of baseball with 48 doubles and 14 triples.
Duran has not been shy about sharing his mental health struggles, hoping to help others trying to overcome similar issues. Red Sox manager Alex Cora praised Duran Monday for sharing his deeply personal story in the film.
"Shared what I need to share"
"Right now, my focus is on the field. We have a postseason to chase, and that's where my head is. I've shared what I needed to share, and I appreciate everyone's understanding that my focus right now is on baseball and helping my team win a World Series," Duran said Tuesday.
"I am grateful for the tremendous support I've received. If you're struggling, please know there's help. You can call a friend, a trusted person, your doctor, or an organization like Samaritans. And, if you're in immediate danger, call 988."
Jarren Duran's message to fans
Duran also spoke in the Red Sox locker room on Tuesday and said he is in a good spot now with a great support group made up of teammates, coaches, friends, and family. He opened up a bit more on why he shared his story with the Netflix crew, and said he didn't plan on bringing it up when the project initially got underway.
"The situation just kind of happened and unfolded. I was sitting there kind of quiet and didn't think it was a good moment to talk about it. But then I thought this could possibly help people out there who don't want to talk about it," he explained. "I took that leap of faith and hoped it would do more good than bad."
Sharing his story has done a lot of good over the last 24 hours, as NESN's Tom Caron relayed to Duran that calls to Samaritans tripled on Monday after it was picked up by several outlets across the country.
"It means a lot. That was the whole purpose of me sharing," he said. "It's not easy to talk about, but I really thought deep down if I could help one person, it's meaningful. To hear that is awesome, and I hope I can inspire people to talk about it more."
Duran's message to fans or anyone struggling with mental health is a simple one: Don't be afraid to ask for help.
"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," he said. "It's important to reach out, and knowing that other people are doing that because I talked about it, it's heartwarming. I hope I can help spread the love that people need to support each other."
Abbie Rosenberg is the founder of the Mental Health Collaborative. They help schools and organizations with mental health literacy. "It can really help change and save someone else's life," Rosenberg said.
Rosenberg says by speaking out, Duran is knocking down stigma and encouraging people to ask for help.
"It should be treated just like diabetes, just like heart conditions but unfortunately because of the stigma, because of the real lack of education... it's not treated like other physical illnesses," Rosenberg said.
Mental health resources
If you need help with depression, suicide prevention, substance abuse or other issues, there are several resources available here.
You can also call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can have a free, confidential conversation with a trained counselor anytime.
