IIt’s considered one of football’s last taboos, an issue that is misunderstood and too easily brushed aside in macho locker rooms, where weaknesses of all kinds tend to be ridiculed. Professional gamers are not expected to suffer from panic, anxiety, depression, or any other mental health issues. They are considered titans among men.
Yet the reality is that footballers present the same vulnerabilities as other young people and, in the intense spotlight of modern football, it is natural and inevitable that some of them will feel overwhelmed. The suicide in 2009 of Hannover and Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke, depressed since the death of his two-year-old daughter Lara from a rare heart condition, was an extreme example, but it raised the issue of mental health in football and the English authorities have now acted.
At the start of next season, players across all four divisions will receive the Footballer’s Guide, which examines the stressful situations professionals face and suggests ways to deal with them.
The concept was conceived by the Professional Footballers’ Association, in conjunction with the Football Association, and was brought to life not only by author Susannah Strong but also by Paul Trevillion, the legendary comics artist behind the Observer’s You Are The Refwhose comics in the 36-page booklet highlight various scenarios, from the depression that being fired for injury can cause to the incomprehension and anger of retirement. Trevillion’s sketches reinforce the overall tone of the work, helping to make a potentially heavy subject matter accessible.
“Talking about mental health issues has always been one of the great taboos in sport,” said Burnley defender and PFA president Clarke Carlisle. “When boxer Frank Bruno was severed under the mental regime Health In fact, the press headlined “Bonkers Bruno locked up” and, given this attitude, it is unsurprisingly very rare for sportsmen and women to voluntarily “speak out” about their mental health.
“Many players don’t really recognize what it is or don’t know how to seek help. I think this guide is groundbreaking for players and a first step towards discussing mental health in professional football.”
The stigma surrounding this problem in gaming is reflected in the fact that few players have admitted to having a problem. Among those who have gone public with their depression are Paul Gascoigne, Andy Cole, Neil Lennon and Stan Collymore. Each is cited in the guide. In some cases of mental health problems, release is sought through drink, drugs, sex or gambling, which can further accelerate the individual’s downfall.
“The attitude is very often ‘get your act together’,” says Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the PFA. “It’s like in the film The King’s Speech, where George VI’s father doesn’t understand the problems he had. When Stan Collymore sought specialist treatment for his depression, Aston Villa wanted to fire him.
“A football dressing room is a bit like being in a service barracks; it’s about not showing mental weakness. The players have to put on a show but they are ducks on water; they may look calm on the surface but underneath they are paddling with fury.
“We are trying to change things and create an atmosphere of solidarity… not to ridicule players with these problems, but to appreciate their qualities and want to keep them together for the good of the team.”
Mental health problems affect one in six adults at any time, including professional footballers, and depression alone affects up to 50%, as well as every family at some point. The guide outlines the factors that can lead to mental distress and places them in situations that will be familiar to players. One of the most stressful, for example, is the contract renewal period. Not all professionals benefit from a long-term contract worth several million euros.
“For players in lower leagues, one-year contracts are commonplace, leading to annual negotiations which can be destabilizing,” says Simone Pound, head of equality at the PFA, who oversaw the production of the guide. “It’s a very important topic and one of the five sections of the book is dedicated to it.”
The overarching messages are the need to seek help, immediately and without fear, if a set of symptoms seem familiar and to recognize that mental health is just as important as physical health.
“We hear little about the depressions players feel when they are unfit to play, the worry and anxiety that not being selected can cause them, or the depression and emptiness many of them face in retirement,” said Gary Lewin, an English physiotherapist. “A number of players have needed help without knowing it and that is why this guide is welcome.”
