I suffered badly with depression recently and reading some of these comments I can point out exactly those who have experience of it and those who haven’t a clue. Let me tell you this, no amount of money, cars or extra people in my life could have lifted that crippling pain off my chest or helped with the battle to get out of bed in the morning. I had the same attitude until it struck me down. If you don’t have stable mental health nothing else matters. I’m only 28 and I know this. Please don’t be so quick to pass comment

The more famous people that discuss their fight with depression will save lives.
Physical illness is never an issue but society needs to treat mental illness as a common ailment that takes many forms.
Don’t hide it. There is help.
Don’t be alone. Talk and good people will always listen.
Beat it together.

Hard to believe depression is still misunderstood the world over! Everyone would agree that most footballers have the financial means to get help with depression but if they don’t understand what it is, then how can they get help?
It’s the single biggest threat today. About 4 times as many people committing suicide today in Ireland than are being killed on the roads, yet more cameras on d way is the governments answer! Divert that money towards mental health care for the general public would have far greater benefits to us all.

I wonder would people be as blasé about this if they had seen first-hand the devastation a mental illness can cause. The sport needs more people like Stan Collymore to stand up and be an advocate for those who suffer in silence. Gary Speed and Robert Enke are just two incidents of footballers, husbands, fathers and examples that never should have been made, and more will follow unless something is done.

Money doesn’t bring happiness!

Robert Enke’s biography (A Life Too Short) offers a great insight into this subject. Tragic story but well worth a read.

I think this article is focusing on depression they suffer whilst in their playing careers not after.
Pressure to perform, abuse from media and fans, short contracts.

Some people have a very simple view if the world. Firstly, it is only a small percentage of footballers that earn ridiculous wages, players in League 1 or 2 would be comfortable while playing but also have a very short career and certainly can’t just retire at 35 and put their feet up until the reaper comes knocking.

In the case of Robert Enke, he played with a fear of failure that he couldn’t overcome all throughout his career, he led a nomadic lifestyle which he found difficult and the loss of his daughter and the stress he felt about potentially not being able to adopt because of his mental health issues. Money was not a big factor in his life, he played football and got paid, but his life was far too complicated to be reduced to pointing at his paycheck and telling him to get over himself.

Mental health issues can’t be solved by applying the same reasoning to everyone, you have to treat people as individuals with individual problems and issues and fund the best solution for them.

All the people saying how could they be depressed read some of the articals of the secret footballer on the guardian website I think. Will change your whoke view of pro footballers..

These lads play at the highest level, they run out in front of crowds of 40,50 or 60 thousand every saturday.. they play well, play in good teams, enjoy the craic with the lads etc.. when thats all gone one day, sometimes abruptly as in a bad injury, these lads can find themselves lost.. i don’t think the money is that big a factor, its more a loss of purpose?

So many people are focusing on the argument of it must be so hard to earn and spend their wages. Clearly you people think that every professional player is on a minimum of 50k a week. May I remind you that the majority of players don’t play in the premiership and therefore don’t earn stupid money. As you go down the divisions players aren’t earning anywhere near that, even in a year, though they are perhaps still better paid then they would be in whatever job they would have had in another life.

Most of us can tell ourselves our best years are ahead of us but for athletes it’s a different story. They know in their mid thirties their best years are gone. Amazing there aren’t more suicides.

Just because professional footballers get paid a lot of money doesn’t mean they are not human beings that are capable of being depressed. Some very stupid comments being made above

I couldn’t begin to imagine the pressure a professional footballer might feel.

As pointed out outside the premier league the stupid money stops, but a footballer my have upwards to 20,000 home fans watching his every move. One or two bad games and that 20,000 are hurling shocking abuse.

Then there is the physical demands. Training several times a week. The pressure from coaches to be that bit faster etc. can’t be easy.

Socially you have to be very aware of who you hang with. Footballers are more prone than most to kiss and tell prostitutes as well as hangers on.

There is also still a massive drinking culture in football. From hitting the pub after an armature Sunday league team to the top of the premier league. Alcohol is a depressant and it can contribute to all too many of the lows a player feels.

Good examples were made of Gary Speed but another example is Gazza. After years of pressure, hangers on robbing him and abuse of drink the man is absolutely psychiatric, a very sad shell of a man.

You have to remember you’re not dealing with normally reared people here. They don’t have the centre of gravity that they rest of us develop as we get older. These are kids who were spotted at 14 or 15, were spoiled rotten, promised the world and given everything they wanted. Sounds great but they’re ill-equipped to deal with the bad times when they inevitably come. Now- I’d give the rest of my years for one year of their life, but you get my point.

its not a problem in the sport its a problem in the individuals regardless of their profession

Poverty doesn’t bring happiness either

yes. wondering how to spend their ridiculous wages must be terrible

Which would you prefer?

Skint, unemployed, arrears, cuts, price increases, home repossession, hunger, dole, emigration, depression?
or
Hundred grand a week, super car, mansion, with super model girlfriend depression?

Must be tough on them all the same.
The babes, The cars, The houses, The fame, The gift they have oh yeah and the money.

Poor wee Pets.

Tell them not to watch MotD. Lineker, Hanson and ‘The Shirt’ Lawrenson would depress anyone!

Tell the players to try being a supporter.. Especially when you lose to QPR.. :))