CLEVELAND, Ohio — For 14-year-old Mason Kuret, anxiety and panic attacks have been a struggle. 

"I’ve had really bad anxiety, probably my whole life. It’s just sometimes I’ll just kind of shut down, kind of black out, will just freak out and I really don’t remember a lot."  


What You Need To Know


  • Kevin Love received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for his work in mental health advocacy

  • Through the Kevin Love Fund and other avenues, Love has become an advocate to help people live a healthier life

  • Mental health experts say Love's work is helpful

 That can be tough on not just him, but also his parents. 

"It’s tough because there’s nothing you can really do to fix it," said Mason's father Daniel.

"He would just get upset. Any kind of new places, new people, change in schedule, starting school, anything like that, it was just, it was painful," said Mason's mother Melissa.

In an essay titled, “Everyone Is Going Through Something,” Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love shared his experience with mental health, including a panic attack during a game.

Mason took notice, bringing a sign to a Cavaliers game, letting Love know the impact of his words. It got the attention of the Cavs star.

"It’s been a lot easier just living in general and knowing someone's there to help, and knowing that there’s other people in the world that go through it and are able to help you like, get through it too," said Mason.

Mental health experts say Love's work is helpful.

"I like to say that we all have engine trouble at some points. And yet, historically, it’s been hard to say for all sorts of folks that I need some help. And I think his willingness to do so affects the willingness of people of all ages," said Scott Bea, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic.

Bea says the timing of Love’s achievement and his work advocating for mental health couldn’t be better. 

"Quarantine conditions of coronavirus, the sense of isolation that people are feeling, social concerns, racial injustice― we have never been busier. It’s never been a time of greater awareness of the role of behavioral health or mental health care in our culture," said Bea.

Love is gratful to be named the recipient of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at this year’s ESPYs, and he promises to continue the fight for people like himself and Mason. 

"In light of all that is going on in our country today, I accept this award as not only an honor, but a challenge― a challenge to not only continue on my path, but to push beyond it and stay vocal, even when silence feels safer," Love said during the ESPY Award show.