EDITOR’S NOTE: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.
Boston Red Sox All-Star outfielder Jarren Duran’s decision to share how mental anguish during his second MLB season led him to attempt suicide is already having an impact.
Massachusetts-based suicide prevention service Samaritans said its peer-to-peer text line for young adults received three times as many messages as normal on Monday, the same day that Duran’s story quickly spread across online outlets and social media. Duran opened up during filming of a recently released Netflix docuseries following the Red Sox through the 2024 season.
“I didn’t want to be here anymore,” Duran told the show’s crew, recounting a start to his career that included fielding errors, media ridicule and an altercation with a fan. Duran then detailed an attempt on his own life that ended when, in his words, “I pulled the trigger and the gun clicked, but nothing happened.”
A text version of the story garnered more than 2 million reported views on X. Search interest in Duran rose 450% this week, according to Google metrics.
In a statement, Duran’s parents, Octavio and Dena, said they “only recently learned the full extent of what Jarren went through, and it was heartbreaking to hear.” But they added that they were grateful he was speaking out now in the hopes of helping others. Red Sox leadership has echoed that sentiment.
“He’s going to save lives with what he did on Netflix,” Boston manager Alex Cora said, speaking to reporters Monday.
Samaritans said Monday’s text activity matched the program’s highest single-day total since the offering launched in March 2022. The organization also received more than twice as many calls through the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline as it had the previous Monday. Samaritans volunteers have answered more than 3 million calls since the group was founded in 1974.
Duran had previously spoken about his struggles with mental health, describing himself as “pretty depressed” as he dealt with challenges under baseball’s spotlight.
“A few years ago, I found myself in a dark place, but I’m still here,” Duran, now 28 years old, said in a statement Tuesday, “And I’m so lucky I am. And if my story can help even one person, then it was worth telling.”
