Mental illness in the English Premier League has raised eyebrows in the recent past and the number of victims is seemingly rocketing, a thing that Prince William addressed slamming the Clubs for not taking actions against the same.
Burnley’s Aaron Lennon says he has been approached by other players struggling with their mental health after he spoke about his experiences.
Lennon was detained under the Mental Health Act in May 2017 over concerns for his welfare when he was at Everton. The winger went on to receive treatment for a stress-related illness.
Former QPR and Burnley defender, Clarke Carlisle
“I’ve spoken to a couple of players. They wanted to know what I was going through and I gave them some advice,” the 31-year-old said.
“If anyone is feeling that way then they should definitely go and seek the help they need.”
Lennon helped launch a mental wellbeing project in schools in Burnley on Tuesday.The scheme, which has funding from the Premier League and the Professional Footballers’ Association, will put mental health professionals in seven secondary schools in the area.
Lennon added: “The fact that it gives the kids the opportunity to have someone in the schools that they can talk to and feel comfortable with, I think it can only benefit them.”
An increasing number of high-profile former-footballers have gone public recently to raise awareness about the stress levels suffered by those in the game.
Former QPR and Burnley defender Clarke Carlisle, whose own issues have been well documented, is among those leading the campaign to ensure there is more help available.
Carlisle, the former chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association, has just launched a Foundation for Dual Diagnosis, which aims to raise awareness about mental health and addiction and is seeking to gather funds for a purpose built treatment facility.
Speaking in an interview some times back, Carlisle spoke of the necessity for football to do more to assess the mental well being of players.
“If we’re going to talk about doing more, I think there needs to be a greater involvement from the football clubs,” he said. “They are the employers and it seems really bizarre to me that they don’t have a duty of care to their employees and the onus rests with the union.
“That doesn’t happen in any other industry. If you’re an employee of a company, they have a duty of care towards your physical and mental wellbeing. I don’t understand why football clubs don’t follow suit.”