YORK, Pa. — When you spot York Revolution shortstop Matt McDermott on the field, there is no doubt you will see shades of purple and teal, the official colors of suicide awareness and prevention.
May's Mental Health Awareness Month has passed, and Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month is not until September; however, for McDermott, he makes sure he rocks the colors every day to continue to spread the message.
"Whenever anything is super important to anyone, there doesn't need to be a designated timeframe for it. It's just important," said McDermott.
From his bat to his shoelaces, McDermott can be seen wearing his permanent team colors, no matter what team he’s on—including the York Revolution
It’s all in honor of his high school friend and teammate, Danny, who died by suicide back in 2017.
"He was almost like a big brother figure to me," said McDermott. "He was the kind of kid that lit up a room when he walked in. So just trying to understand how one end of the spectrum can lead to the other end of the spectrum so quick and how we might not know who's going through what and what people are dealing with.
McDermott moved up the baseball ranks and would end up playing for Coastal Carolina, a team that already sports teal. It was the perfect time to adopt his permanent purple and teal colors and use it as a way to spread awareness on suicide prevention and mental health.
"I felt like it was a great opportunity for me to spread light on it and to bring it to the forefront," said McDermott. "When I saw him go through that, a little part of me died, but a little part of me also got to understand and learn more about myself and how I'm able to live through him."
On April 9, 2022, exactly five years to the day since Danny's death, McDermott stepped up to the plate. With the weight of losing one of his closest friends on his shoulders, while wearing the purple and teal to honor him, he hit a home run for Danny.
"It was like one of the most uplifted I've ever felt in my life from feeling Danny within me, my coastal teammates, my parents after the game, everything was just perfect," said McDermott.
The home run went viral on social media, and was just one of the many times he has since and continues to spread the importance of mental health.
"No one's weak for having mental health issues. No one's weak for having suicidal thoughts," said McDermott. "There's no reason to judge anyone or judge ourselves. So, try to live life as happy as we can, spread happiness every day, live life the best way we can and erase that stigma as much as we can."
So, no matter what team or what time of the year, you'll be sure to find Matt McDermott on team purple and teal.