Mental Health and Footballers: Players continue to lack the mental health support they deserve, and UEFA remains passive
“[A fan of the opposing team and I] were having a to-and-fro with the bench. They had a go at my mental health and told me I ‘should have done it right the first time’” says David Cox, a previous Albion Rovers footballer who quit after fans and opponents mocked him for speaking out about his struggles with his mental health.
Until recent years, footballers in Europe have had few, if any, resources to support their mental health, despite the intense pressure they are under to perform well. Even today, scrutiny from fans, remarks from opposing players, and lack of support from clubs work together to silence players, worsening the problem.
“What the players find is that the clubs do not support them enough. Some players have been dropped for admitting they had a [mental health] problem” says Rob Blackburne, the host of the Footballers’ Mindset podcast. Blackburne, a former Chelsea youth team goalkeeper, held sessions with players one-on-one about their mental health issues. After realizing the scale of the issue, he started a podcast to shed light on the “unseen epidemic” of the game.
While the problem exists at a global scale, individuals, like Blackburne, are the ones working toward a solution. Michael Bennett, a former footballer, is looking at the problem from a different angle. Bennett suffered a severe injury and was told he would need to retire. After experiencing firsthand the challenges of transitioning out of the game, he created a mental health workshop that shows anxiety and depression in a football framework. While working with the Professional Footballers’ Association, he helped develop the Player Welfare Department, where counselors provide further support to footballers. Bennett’s goal is that players no longer have to suffer in silence.
On the larger scale, UEFA claims to welcome everyone into a safe environment and prioritize mental health, however, they do not provide any mental health resources to players. Their mental health priority lies on the football community as a whole, highlighting the positive impact of the game, but their resources fall short when it comes to supporting the biggest players on the field.
How should UEFA respond to the mental health crisis? Is claiming to support mental health enough, or should they help connect clubs and teams with resources? What are the pros and cons of relying on individual efforts to solve this problem?
References
Bate, Adam. “Football’s Mental Health Epidemic: ‘Big Problem Nobody Is Talking About.’” Sky
Sports, Sky Sports, 19 Nov. 2020,
www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12122567/footballs-mental-health-epidemic-bi
g-problem-nobody-is-talking-about.
Brooks, Libby. “Albion Rovers’ David Cox to Retire after Alleged Mental Health Taunt.” The
Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 30 Apr. 2021,
www.theguardian.com/football/2021/apr/30/albion-rovers-david-cox-quits-football-after-
alleged-mental-health-taunt.
“Now and Then: Mental Health with Michael Bennett.” Professional Footballers’ Association:
Latest News, Professional Footballers’ Association, 14 May 2019,
www.thepfa.com/news/2019/5/14/now-and-then-mental-health-with-michael-bennett.
“Players Taunted Footballer over Depression.” BBC News, BBC, 2 Feb. 2018,
www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-42901550.
UEFA.com. “UEFA Marks World Mental Health and Homeless Days: Inside UEFA.”
UEFA.Com, 16 Oct. 2023,
www.uefa.com/insideuefa/about-uefa/news/0286-192e0f519baa-382054d43d5b-1000--ue
fa-marks-world-mental-health-and-homeless-days/.
It's deeply concerning to hear stories like David Cox's, where players face such dire mental health challenges amidst their careers. UEFA's stance on providing direct mental health resources to players seems to be a huge oversight especially given the intense pressures and scrutiny athletes face. UEFA should actively bridge the gap between claiming to support mental health and offering resources. This could involve partnerships with mental health professionals to provide dedicated support for players, fostering a healthier, more supportive football community. These players are the people who make UEFA money so I dont understand why they wouldn't want their players to be at the peak of their game. What steps do you think UEFA could take to make a more substantial impact?
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with what you said-- I think that UEFA should directly connect teams with mental health professionals so that each team has their own support person for players to turn to. I think this would also normalize going to a professional and seeking help when a player is in need. As you pointed out, the players make the game which then makes UEFA money, so UEFA should help support their players by connecting them with the resources they need. Teams employ trainers to treat injuries, so the same principle should be applied to mental health resources as well.
DeleteI believe that UEFA should be doing more to connect clubs to true resources. Just saying they support it does not mean they truly do much to support their athletes. UEFA should do everything they can to help their athletes, like chase said, because the athletes are the ones who make the money for UEFA. Some pros include could be finding the right help you need for you specifically. Some cons include not being able to find the correct resources without UEFA's help.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, UEFA should definitely connect clubs with resources, rather than just saying they support their athletes. While it may cost UEFA money to do this, they will profit more by having players stay in the game longer and not need to retire early due to the strain it has on their mental health.
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