
Mental health


Flashpoint: A Firefighter’s Journey Through PTSD

James Donaldson’s gift of life
James Donaldson had a great college and professional basketball career, a physical therapy business, and many aspirations, even in retirement from sports.
But over the course of several years, illness, bankruptcy, divorce, and circumstances in life sent Donaldson into a dark mental spiral. He found his way back, writing a book about his struggles and starting a foundation to help others.
In this episode, Donaldson talks with magazine associate editor Adriana Janovich about his struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts, his recovery and memoir, and his desire to help other men, especially men of color, who face the same darkness.
Donaldson, a 1979 alum of … » More …

From simple acts—great things come

Dive deeper into happiness
Happiness is a many-splendored thing.
There are a lot of facets to well-being, happiness, and joy. Washington State University faculty in history, psychology, philosophy, nursing, and medicine examined several aspects of happiness in the Fall 2022 feature, “…and the pursuit of happiness.” The science of happiness has been a growing field, with real world implications for our mental and physical health, society, and future.
Dive even deeper into the topic through the articles and courses below.
This popular free course from Yale University offers a series of challenges designed to increase your own happiness and … » More …
Beneath the surface

Standing tall

Video and stories about James Donaldson
Former Coug and NBA basketball star James Donaldson (’79 Socio.) faced a lot of adversity over the last decade. He has turned his struggles with mental health into a new purpose: helping others through sharing his experiences.
Video: Eric Johnson (’84 Comm.) interviews Donaldson for Eric’s Heroes on Seattle’s KOMO-TV
Donaldson is a guest on Chino y Chicano, co-hosted by Enrique Cerna (’75 Comm.). (Read more about Cerna and his podcast)
Your Gift of Life: Donaldson’s nonprofit to increase awareness of mental health
Read more about Donaldson’s journey back in “Standing tall.”
From the … » More …

Happier endings
