WNBA star Brittney Griner’s harrowing ordeal in Russia takes a deeper turn as she reveals battling suicidal thoughts during her detainment. Griner, arrested in February 2022 on drug charges, opened up about the emotional toll of her imprisonment in a recent interview with ABC’s Robin Roberts.

The interview coincides with the upcoming release of Griner’s memoir, “Coming Home,” which delves into her experience. Detained for possessing cannabis oil vape cartridges, Griner’s reality inside the Russian prison system proved brutal. Confined to a cramped cell with malfunctioning plumbing and limited access to basic necessities, Griner described feeling utterly hopeless.

“I wanted to take my life more than once in the first weeks,” Griner confessed to Roberts. “I felt like leaving here so badly,” she said, her voice heavy with emotion.

Griner’s ordeal extended beyond the physical hardships. The isolation from loved ones, the uncertainty of her future, and the constant fear gnawed at her mental well-being.

Thankfully, Griner secured her release in December 2022 through a prisoner swap between the US and Russia. However, her interview sheds a light on the profound psychological impact of detainment and the crucial need for mental health support in such situations.

Griner’s story serves as a stark reminder of the human cost behind geopolitical tensions. It compels a conversation about the importance of international cooperation in ensuring the well-being of detainees, regardless of the circumstances that led to their imprisonment.