Jets' Solomon Thomas is driven by the memory of his sister and an ever-present call to help people

Solomon Thomas was lost, stuck in a dark place mentally while desperately trying to overcome the anxiety, depression and sadness that gnawed at him

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Solomon Thomas was lost, stuck in a dark place mentally while desperately trying to overcome the anxiety, depression and sadness that gnawed at him.

He needed help. He wasn't sure if he could overcome it all. And he didn't know where to turn.

Thomas’ older sister Ella died by suicide in January 2018 at 24 years old after dealing with her own mental health issues. Thomas, who had just completed his rookie NFL season with San Francisco, grieved with his family, but those dire thoughts never left his mind — until he started talking about them.

Long chats with therapists helped him and his family move forward. So did a few media interviews, which resulted in the surprising realization he was not alone.

“There's a stigma about suicide and mental health,” said the 28-year-old Thomas, in his second season with the New York Jets. "We started to speak and started telling Ella's story and we started helping people. We saw the impact of just talking about it.