‘Speed will not be the last footballer in distress’

The football world is reeling following the apparent suicide of Gary Speed at the weekend.

The 42-year-old ex-player, a father of two, was found hanged at his home on Sunday morning. Tributes from the sporting world and beyond have since poured in – including from Prime Minister David Cameron as well as from former teammates like Ryan Giggs.

Since February, Mr Speed had been in charge of the Welsh football team, and his colleagues in Welsh football spoke on Monday about their devastation.

Football Association of Wales Chief Executive Jonathan Ford, choking back tears, told a press conference: “It is surreal. I am so emotionally cut up. We can’t fathom it, we can’t understand it, and I think we will be guessing for many years to come. We are all devastated.”

While the circumstances behind Mr Speed’s death remain unclear, mental health campaigners say it is a wake-up call.

Paul Farmer, Mind chief executive, said: “Gary Speed is not the first footballer to experience mental distress and nor, sadly, will he be the last.

Gary Speed is not the first footballer to experience mental distress and nor, sadly, will he be the last. Paul Farmer, Mind chief executive

“Each year, more than 4,000 people in England and Wales take their own lives and three quarters of suicides are by men.

“The macho culture of football means that we have seen very few professionals come forward to talk about mental health problems but it is only by speaking out about mental health… that we can increase understanding and awareness of these issues, and encourage people to be able to seek the help that they need.”

The charity pointed to the suicide of German goalkeeper Robert Enke in 2009 – another demonstration that sportsmen, in common with anyone else, are not immune from mental health problems. In recent days, footballer Stan Collymore has also been tweeting about his struggles with depression.

But players of Collymore’s bravery seem to be the exception rather than the rule – and that must change to prevent more sporting tragedies, campaigners and psychologists told Channel 4 News.

State of Mind

Brian Carney, a former rugby league player and now Sky Sports commentator, is one of the founders of rugby league’s State of Mind campaign.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of mental health issues in rugby league, and to reassure players that it is OK to talk about psychological struggles.

Mr Carney told Channel 4 News that it should not have to be issues as tragic as the death of Mr Speed to bring mental health to the foreground in sport.

“I hope it doesn’t take incidences like this to show it’s real, it’s happening, and it’s not always the people you think,” he said.

Mr Carney added: “It just shows that behind the persona we all have problems, and we need to address them.”

He said he hoped campaigns like State of Mind could be broadened to get the message across that talking about mental health is not a “weakness” for sports stars and for the wider population.

Warriors

This idea that sports stars need to be tough and not show “weakness” is a key issue, sports psychologist Dr Victor Thompson told Channel 4 News.

“The culture within sport is to be tough, strong, and to soldier on, with no chinks in your armour. So if you are struggling it is difficult to ask for help,” he said.

He said people in sport also often found it hard to ask for help, knowing that they are in a position many would love to be in, and are often worshipped by fans.

“They see it as difficult to gripe about life when people think you have an easy number,” he said. Confidentiality issues are also a worry for some, he said.

He also said that the public often forgets that sportspeople are real people as well, with real issues.

Real-life issues

“Life still happens even if you’re a big star, and normal stresses and strains can have a really big impact on people,” Dr Thompson said.

For all of these reasons, it should be easier for sports stars to find help, he told Channel 4 News.

He described it as a “no-brainer” for sport to provide more psychological support.

“For example in football, a player comes from South America to join a big English club. It would be stupid to say OK, you’re here, here is some money, but now find your own house, your own car, your way to the ground. They are offered support on practical issues – why not on other issues, when being without it can cause a lot of stress and distress?

“Not everyone needs help but it should be available and it should not be seen as weakness or something bad.”