Dwayne Johnson praised for tackling depression and mental health on 'Young Rock'

On Dwayne Johnson's new NBC sitcom Young Rock Tuesday night, the topics of depression and mental health were discussed during a scene in which Johnson's father was giving him some great advice.

After tearing ligaments in his shoulder during football practice at the University of Miami, Johnson was benched for an entire season before it even began. The injury subsequently sent young Rock into a deep depression that lasted for months.

It wasn't until Johson was working out with his father, that he realized he needed to keep fighting. "You can't dwell on that. If you let yourself get stuck there, you're gonna stay stuck there. That thing, that voice in your head, that's fear. It's trying to make you doubt yourself, trying to steal your confidence. But you can't let it. You got to tune it out and keep going," Johnson's father told his son.

The episode then flashes forward to the real-life Johnson during an interview, who shares, "My dad was just letting me know that I wasn't alone, and that's what I want to share with your audience, Kenny, is that you're not alone. If you're going through it and you're struggling and you're depressed, you're not alone, and it's okay to ask for help. Asking for help isn't a weakness. Asking for help is actually our superpower."

Viewers loved the Rock's message about the strength in asking for help, and took to Twitter following Tuesday night's episode to praise both the Rock and the show. One person tweeted: "Idk if @TheRock will see this but tonight's episode of #YoungRock hit me like a ton of bricks. Extremely relatable. Depression ain't no joke...but neither are we."

Video Transcript

[WHOOSH]

- Dewey, are sure you're OK?

- Mom, trust me. I'm fine.

- And were you OK?

- No.

KYLIE MAR: On Tuesday's episode of Dwayne Johnson's new NBC sitcom "Young Rock," which is based on the professional wrestler and actor's life, the topic of depression and mental health was discussed during a scene in which Dwayne's father was giving him some great advice.

- That thing, that voice in your head, that's fear. It's trying to make you doubt yourself, trying to steal your confidence. But you can't let it. You got to tune it out and keep going.

KYLIE MAR: The father-son moment came after Dwayne tore his shoulder during college football practice and was subsequently benched for the entire season. Following his injury, young Rock was sent into a deep depression that lasted for months.

- Wow, I'm surprised your dad was so ahead of his time as far as mental health goes.

DWAYNE JOHNSON: Yeah, it surprised me, too. And my dad was just letting me know that I wasn't alone.

KYLIE MAR: Viewers took to Twitter following the episode praising The Rock and the show for sending a strong message about the strength in asking for help. One person tweeted, I don't know if The Rock will see this. But tonight's episode of "Young Rock" hit me like a ton of bricks, extremely relatable. Depression ain't no joke, but neither are we.

DWAYNE JOHNSON: You're not alone. If you're going through it, and you're struggling and you're depressed, you're not alone. And it's OK to ask for help. And asking for help isn't a weakness. Asking for help is actually our superpower.

[WHOOSH]