Depression: Will the next generation live in fear?

The focus of today’s post evolved from the news that Dean Windass, memorable for his promotion to the premier league with Hull City and for his inconclusive match reports on Sky Sports News, attempted to commit suicide twice last week. Windass has admitted, in a very open confession of his mental condition, that he has cried ‘every day for two years’ since retiring and that he feels he has become a ‘failure’. This, along with the tragic death of Gary Speed, leads me to question whether the younger generation of sportsmen and women fear that their careers may ultimately be overshadowed by uncontrollable feelings of depression. Do they feel that when they retire they might not be able to seek the help needed to avoid the feelings of wanting to take one's own life?  

Research has revealed that after retiring or ending ones career suddenly, athletes can experience the same psychological stages as those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Depression is one of the most difficult stages in the cycle as it varies in intensity and frequency, seemingly lingering like a stinking cold during the winter. The end of a career is a huge loss, as unlike you and I, who may decide to change occupation for the want of a new challenge, athletes are often forced to retire from a sport that they are still head over heels in love with. Ironically, almost as certain as death itself, somewhere during an athlete’s career, after soaring at the peak of their powers, there will be a come-down, a trough from which their playing career will never quite recover from. In terms of their lifetime, the length of this peak somewhat resembles that of the ‘high’ one experiences after tripping out on your everyday recreational drug, a feeling of ecstasy that anyone would miss. It is also proven that a reduction in exercise can increase depression levels as it is known to release ‘feel-good’ chemicals which are pro-active in reducing depression and anxiety.    

High profile cases of depression include that faced by Kelly Holmes who, left frustrated with injury, began to self-harm, whilst Frank Bruno and Paul Gascoigne were both sectioned under the Mental Health Act and received professional treatment for depression. Anxiety, the general term for several disorders that cause nervousness, fear, apprehension, and worrying, was the tragic burden that hampered and shortened the international career of arguably one of England’s most explosive and talented batsmen Marcus Trescothick. He described it as ‘the beast that lives inside’ and struggled particularly when touring abroad. Windass will seek help from Tony Adams’ Sporting Chance Clinic where he will receive support and counselling for the kinds of destructive behaviour patterns that exist in top level sport, only unable to attend today as the clinic is bursting at the seams with sportsmen and women seeking this help.

Susannah Strong, the author of a PFA booklet designed to educate and help retired footballers that may be suffering from depression, speaks of how unwilling players still active in our football leagues are to speak out. Instead she bemoaned how the booklet had to be based on articles written about retired players and their biographies. This seems to contradict the view of many that there is greater acceptance in sport, as clearly depression is still this taboo that sportsmen in particular are afraid to speak out about. Is the macho atmosphere of a dressing room too intimidating for the mind of someone struggling with depression? Imagine what it could be like for a young footballer who, after a string of bad performances or a long term injury, realises he is experiencing symptoms of depression. Would he be able to seek the help he needs. Contrary to the belief of many involved in the game, Susannah argues that, despite being groomed to ‘absolute physical perfection’, footballers are denied any attention to their mental health.

However has this now rapidly changed in the wake of influential figures speaking out? Freddie Flintoff, England’s talismanic cricketing all-rounder, recently produced a programme during which he not only expressed his own feelings of depression but opened up everyone’s eyes to the fragility of the mind possessed by a top level sportsman.  Have these examples acted as the catalyst that was needed to remove the shame and denial that has been loitering over the word ‘depression’. Today the sporting community seems to be in agreement that there is a better understanding of depression and, perhaps more importantly, a greater acceptance. This in addition to a more sympathetic and supportive stance from the media will only benefit athletes in the future. Perhaps instead of being frightened and worried about what may lie in store for the next generation of young talent, they now can take comfort in the fact that, if experienced, depression is nothing to be ashamed of and the support and framework for recovery is all around them. Good luck to Dean Windass, I look forward to him returning to Gillette Soccer Saturday, struggling to describe anything that has occurred in a game of football with any clarity!