It’s no secret that 76ers forward Royce White has struggled with mental health issues. The former Rockets player said early in the 2012 season that he might quit playing professional basketball to focus on his personal struggles.
Even though White has officially left Houston, a bit of his legacy will be staying behind. On Wednesday, White announced a partnership between his non-profit organization, Anxious Minds Inc., and Busy Bee Wellness Center to create the Royce White Institute of Mental Health on the city’s southwest side, according to the Houston Chronicle.
The Wellness Center will be housed in a 17,000-square-foot facility and will also offer dental and primary care. It is scheduled to open in January 2014.
White has been open about his own personal struggles with mental health issues and said that he thinks that every major city should offer free mental healthcare in some capacity. He started Anxious Minds Inc. while he was a student-athlete at Iowa State, and the partnership with Busy Bee Wellness Center will be the organization’s first.
White was drafted by the Rockets 16th overall in the 2012 draft, but he never played for the team. He stopped attending practices on Nov. 10Â because of a dispute over agreements he wanted in place related to his anxiety disorder and his assignment to the NBA Development League.
In the D-League, White averaged 11.4 points and 5.7 rebounds in 16 games with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
