**Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.**
Chris Simon, a former NHL enforcer, passed away by suicide last year, and his family has shared a poignant revelation discovered after his death.
The NHL confirmed that Simon, aged 52, was found deceased in his hometown of Wawa, Ontario, on March 18, 2024. Simon enjoyed a 15-year career in the National Hockey League, earning admiration as a formidable enforcer on the ice.
In the aftermath of his passing, his family remembered him as a ‘gentle, loving man’ and disclosed a painful health condition diagnosed after his brain underwent examination.
Prior to his death, Simon’s family noticed changes in his behavior, suspecting that something was wrong as his condition worsened.
They had previously suspected that Simon might be suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disorder characterized by repeated head injuries, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The Mayo Clinic explains that CTE causes nerve cell death in the brain, known as degeneration, and worsens over time. A definitive diagnosis is only possible after death through a brain autopsy.
The family had suspected CTE for a long time but could not confirm it until after Simon’s passing, when they received the results from the Concussion Legacy Foundation.
“Chris was suffering tremendously from CTE,” the family stated in a public announcement.
They elaborated, “We saw him declining but did not know where to turn to for help. Chris’ short-term memory issues persisted for many years.”
“We also learned that he had lost most of his hearing, experienced daily headaches, light sensitivity, paranoia, was easily frustrated with tasks, had extreme anxiety, difficulty navigating in a vehicle, apathy—lack of feeling and emotion, impulsivity, distancing from those who mattered, suffered executive dysfunction, and had suicidal thoughts at times.”
During the last three years of Simon’s life, he distanced himself from family and friends, creating a challenge for those who cared for him.
The family believes that Simon may have started experiencing CTE symptoms in his late 20s to early 30s.
According to the Mayo Clinic, CTE symptoms can manifest in two main ways. The first can occur in the late 20s to early 30s, with mental health and behavioral issues like depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and aggression. The second form may develop around age 60, with memory and thinking difficulties potentially leading to dementia.
Simon’s brain was examined at the UNITE Brain Bank at Boston University CTE Center, leading to a stage three CTE diagnosis. There are four stages of CTE.
Dr. Ann McKee, chief of neuropathology for the VA Boston Healthcare System and director of the Boston University CTE Center and UNITE Brain Bank, explained to the DailyMail: “Mr. Simon had severe CTE pathology in areas of the brain involved with cognition and mood regulation, and it is likely CTE contributed to his memory problems, depression, and apathy.”
A study by the Center revealed that 71.4 percent of amateur athletes diagnosed with CTE were under 30 at the time of their death.
Despite the difficulties at the end of his life, Simon’s family cherishes the memories of better days.
They recalled that before losing him to CTE, he was “a very gentle, loving man whose family meant the world to him.”
Other NHL players diagnosed with CTE posthumously include Bobby Hull, Ralph Backstrom, Stan Mikita, Bob Probert, and Derek Boogaard.
For anyone dealing with mental health challenges or crises, support is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. Additionally, reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.