Depression is a health related problem that affects many of us, due to daily stresses in life. So what is it about sports a person that means they should be immune to what can be a natural process? Yes psychology in sport now plays a huge part and as a player/participant they are expected to have ways to deal with the strains that sport brings. With the way modern sports are as with sport scientists and sports psychologist becoming more and more prominent and where possibly the best coaches seen to be psychologist because morale is so important in sport and how to react to the negatives. Sometimes without helping themselves, no one can know which leads to irreversible actions.
Noun;
- 1 [mass noun] severe, typically prolonged, feelings of despondency and dejection: self-doubt creeps in and that swiftly turns to depression
- Medicine a mental condition characterized by severe feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy, typically accompanied by a lack of energy and interest in life: she suffered from clinical depression.
The second bullet point is significant as this enforces that depression is a disease and something that needs to be treated.
A sport that gets regular coverage on this is cricket; due to the nature of the timetable as county cricket, is it’s a 6 month period and over the winter period players struggle, as most just train then don’t have much else other than cricket to keep them distracted or busy. Another is due to the abruptness of how a cricketers’ career usually ends whether it be by injury or loss of form. One extra thing I also got from the Radio 5 Live “Depression in Cricket” programme was that because the sport is so statistically heavy and as it isn’t a fast sport compared to others, slow motions and intense analysis, furthers a pressure onto the players.
Michael Vaughan suggested that players can avoid captains and instead go to other players because they want to be picked and to show a sign of weakness means that they might not be put into contention for a place in the team. One player who has been open about his trouble with depression has been England cricketer, Marcus Trescothick who had a more anxiety induced depression and wasn’t due to on the field activities. In fact he didn’t even realise he had depression till he broke down and went to hospital and was advised to see therapists. He also emphasised the point that he couldn’t bare another winter without cricket.
Mathew Hoggard, ex-England international another who suffered from depression, now does personal development in the winter and said that education is the key and to get through it. Getting through the illness is down to mental toughness and self awareness. To discuss the problem is just the first step to helping you. He also said that the pressure players put themselves under is also a cause.
After the cricket World Cup in 2011 Michael Yardy was another to go home suffering from the illness and was heavily criticised by one famous commentator, Geoffrey Boycott who believed Yardy wasn’t good enough in first place. And it’s these type of comments in which keeps players from coming out as they further put down the player and pushes the “get up and carry on” attitude as such figures have great influence on the listener. And as he was from another generation couldn’t relate to the issue. And it’s the education of everyone that stops old values being held and instead to give support to players and help them through it to return to the sport as soon as possible without being criticised. Yardy was asked how could he be depressed, but he explained that it was the being away from home and anxiety that effected him and learnt that depression is an illness of an imbalance in chemical reactions and not due to the external factors and effects the way you start to think before you think it.
Recently we are seeing depression more and more in other sports, especially football but sadly more often than not it’s resulting in no interruption and the players deciding to take their own lives because there is still the stigma around the illness. The examples I’m thinking of are Germany’s Robert Enke, who only told select family and not the club as he believed he’d lose his position and be kicked out the club if it was revealed. The second is Welshman Gary Speed, who also took his life in an abrupt fashion. This emphasises the illness is easily hidden and that it’s still believed as something to be embarrassed about, when it isn’t.
One footballer who was able to get through depression was ex-Burnley defender Clark Carlisle, who has done several programmes for the BBC and produced a handbook to help people understand the condition and take the steps needed to get through it. He is also a believer in the duty of care to players, and to take a non judgmental approach to get players to open up. He has also pointed across that issues with alcohol, drugs and promiscuity could be to create a ‘buzz’ and be the result of depression.
Rugby has also had a few players make public of their struggle, one being former All Blacks John Kirwan who broke the mould in 1987. He states that depression is a “modern illness” and has tried to break down the stigma ever since. He said on the 5 Live Programme that life was great for him but one day just woke up and didn’t recognise the reflection. It was due to the worry of failing and that he tried to fight it. But it wasn’t until the moment he accepted and worked with it, he was able to take a step forward. He also said to not look for reasons why, just reach out for help and not to be embarrassed as mental illness isn’t a failure. He was also told that sometimes he should just stop, and enjoy the little things; the taste of his coffee, or the ‘sand between your feet’, allowed him to move forward. Since then he has started advertising campaigns in Australia and has a website.
Depression is an illness that isn’t just shaken off, it’s a disease that can only be helped once the person involved asks for help. Not to be embarrassed and to share the struggles with others, anybody, as so many struggle with it on and off the sports table. This means, as a sporting figure they can be an idol and inspiration for others in taking the right steps needed and rid the stigma of mental illness and that sports people are no different. We’re all human.
Source: DSG
