Metta World Peace promotes mental health with new campaign

Metta World Peace has taken a leadership role in fostering mental health awareness.

Starting Monday, World Peace and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health will partner in May for Mental Health Awareness Month.

World Peace’s “Talk It Out” campaign will be on display on Metropolitan Transportation Authority shelters, depots, buses and trains in both English and Spanish.

“It’s unnecessary stress if you’re holding things in,” World Peace said. “It can just bring unnecessary stress to your heart and to your mind. When you can release it and talk about it, you feel better, and that’s how it should be with anything.”

World Peace has tried to help remove the stigma associated with mental health. After winning a championship with the Lakers in 2010, the Lakers forward thanked his psychiatrist on the national broadcast.

With the proceeds going to mental health charities, World Peace auctioned off his championship ring.

World Peace is heading into the final year of his contract with the Lakers, although he has an early termination option that could make him a free agent. The Lakers also have a one-time amnesty that might be used on the veteran forward to help save the team from significant luxury tax penalties.

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Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.