It seems some people forget about his age in this context. This is probably the first time in his life he had to deal with depression. To then try to do it in a foreign country, in New York of all places, where he didn't feel he could trust anyone in the organization to help him instead of stabbing him in the back the second they hear about it, so he tried to self medicate? Well, I can certainly see how that didn't help his anxiety.
The way the NHL franchises treated Lehner after he was open about his mental issues didn't exactly help the situation. It more or less confirmed that there is still a culture where if you show weakness or a reason to need help, you're thrown out. Owners don't like that kind of problematic cash cattle. Throw it out, buy a new cow. Lehner was third in Vezina voting, he still hasn't found a team that believes in him.
Who was it in Buffalo that just said "f*** it", quit his career in the middle of the season and went home, because of depression? Some other Swedish player. I can understand why. He had earned enough money and he knew he would've been branded and thrown out anyway if he admitted depression. So he just put himself on a plane and left the circus, to never return. Then after announcing his retirement on home soil, then he admitted he was suffering from depression. Buffalo wondered why he didn't say anything and asked for help. Well, take a guess, it's obvious why he didn't say anything nor asked for help.
The problem isn't that NHL players sometimes get mental issues, just like any other human being. The problem is all NHL players now know nothing has changed from the NHL standpoint. They pretended to applaud Lehner and lied about how "things have changed". NOPE. Actions speak louder than words. Players are still just money cattle to the NHL and the players know it. If you limp, you're taken to the vet for the last time.
Imagine if movie stars were treated the same way if they needed to go to rehab or something. Lol, there would be no movie stars left in the business.