Most people would argue that the lives of professional soccer players are all glitz and glamour. But what they do not notice is the psychological side of the sport, which can be overwhelming. While it is true that professional soccer players have access to a luxurious lifestyle. This luxury often comes with a major drawback, Depression and Anxiety. The pressure and demands of elite sport can take a toll on players’ mental health. These athletes are human too and are not immune to the psychological challenges that are part and parcel of the sport. Depression and Anxiety are prevalent among professional soccer players and this topic should be prioritised and addressed because it is a major concern.
For instance, data on the average pay in Europe’s top football leagues, as provided by Friedrich, reflects the lucrative nature of elite soccer careers, reinforcing the notion of a luxurious lifestyle. http://www.footballfinance.de/en/post/revenues-salaries-and-salary-ratio-of-the-top-5-leagues-in-europe-2019-20-and-2020-21
Many argue that mental health issues like depression and anxiety are stigmatised in soccer. Players feel pressured to hide their emotions because they fear being perceived as “mentally weak.” https://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/2018/02/14/mental-health-in-the-soccer-world/ by Jack Bloomfield talks about stigmatisation in the sport. “Angel Di Maria, midfielder for French club PSG, made a statement in an article: “Memes hurt us a lot, going to the psychologist has helped me.” Although this seems like a pretty insignificant comment, it actually takes a lot of courage to come out and speak publicly about seeing a psychologist. There is still a stigma around seeking help for mental problems, and some still view it as being weak and vulnerable. Another factor to consider is how your club will view your confessions. A soccer club seeks the strongest and most capable players, and by admitting to mental health problems you might appear to be the opposite.”
However, suppressing mental health issues can lead to severe consequences for the well-being and performance of the athlete. Hence, it is vital that clubs and governing bodies create an environment where players can openly discuss their mental struggles. There is a widespread belief that elite athletes should be “mentally tough” and be able to handle pressure. And if a player decides to openly discuss their mental health, this shows signs of “weakness.” But research shows that addressing mental health issues can improve performance. Clubs should prioritise providing support for mental health as this can help players perform better. Furthermore, fostering an open culture leads to a more positive and successful sporting environment. It is a common misconception that seeking help for mental health is a sign of weakness, especially in elite sport where a resilient mindset is highly valued. But seeking help for mental health requires immense courage and players should be encouraged to seek help.
There have been several incidents in professional soccer that have led to an increase in awareness and support for mental health. One major example is the death of Gary Speed, the former professional player and manager of the Welsh national side. His death, ruled as suicide by hanging, shocked the soccer community. It led to an increase in awareness about mental health issues faced by athletes and encouraged discussions in the soccer community about the importance of mental health. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-62053440 Gary Speed’s mother spoke to BBC in an article written by George Herd and Dafydd Evans after the passing of her son, and this is what she had to say: “You know, if people are ill and they die, then you know why, but we didn’t. We just didn’t know with Gary. “No answers whatsoever – no. And that’s hard – that’s hard. Because we didn’t have any idea, he was feeling like that. “He never showed it. He was always smiling. “We couldn’t keep an eye on him, because we didn’t think there was anything wrong.” Speed’s mother said discussions around mental health, especially for men, had undergone an important change since his death. “It was never spoken about. It never even crossed my mind. I couldn’t believe it when Gary did what he did. I was just numb. “But it seems to have been all brought out since Gary, and people are not frightened to talk about it anymore.” She said the message was simple: “Speak to someone even though it’s hard. “Because they had no idea what it does to the family. It just breaks people up, completely. “It certainly has, our life. It’s ruined our life completely.”
Major tragedies like this have led to increased efforts by organisations like the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) to address mental health issues in the sport. As a result, there has been greater focus on providing mental health support services and focusing on improving the overall well-being of footballers. The PFA offers counselling and therapy, educational programs on mental wellbeing and initiatives aimed at reducing stigma around mental health issues.
“Athletes Are Shifting the Narrative Around Mental Health at Work” by Alyson Meister and Maude Lavanchy on Harvard Business Review discuss some ways to tackle psychological issues in elite sports. “Recent instances of high-profile athletes prioritizing their mental health, along with organized efforts from the sports industry, have triggered an important shift in the narrative of mental health in sports. There is much that company leaders can learn from the sports world’s mental health momentum. The authors present four strategies for leaders seeking to support their employees’ mental health. Stop making assumptions about people’s well-being — instead, just ask. Hiding your vulnerabilities can reinforce the stigma around mental health. Recovery is as important for mental health as it is for physical health. And fostering support networks can unlock a virtuous cycle of employee and organizational growth.” https://hbr.org/2021/09/athletes-are-shifting-the-narrative-around-mental-health-at-work
R.L. Foskett and F. Longstaff did research on the mental health of elite athletes in the United Kingdom. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1440244017318212 The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of signs of anxiety/depression and distress among a sample of elite athletes in the United Kingdom (UK). A secondary aim was to identify the variables associated with signs of anxiety/depression and distress in the same sample. They found that the percentage of a sample of elite athletes in the UK showing signs of anxiety/depression and distress indicate that further cross-sectional research is required to understand the prevalence of mental health issues in the elite athlete population in the UK. Findings indicate that screening elite athletes for career dissatisfaction may support the early detection of signs of anxiety/depression and/or distress. Emphasis should be placed on understanding and improving the mental health of elite athletes in the UK. To the authors’ knowledge this is the first study to investigate the mental health of a sample of elite athletes within the United Kingdom. Findings revealed that half of a sample of elite athletes in the UK showed signs of anxiety/depression (47.8%), and just over a quarter showed signs of distress (26.8%).
In conclusion, psychology is a massive part of professional football and therefore should not be overlooked. Research shows that helping athletes with their mental well-being leads to a more successful and positive sporting environment.
Citations in MLA Format:
- Herd, George, and Dafydd Evans. “Football and Mental Health: Players Share Their Stories.” BBC News, BBC, 4 July 2022, www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-62053440.
- Meister, Alyson, and Maude Lavanchy. “Athletes Are Shifting the Narrative Around Mental Health at Work.” Harvard Business Review, 7 Sept. 2021, hbr.org/2021/09/athletes-are-shifting-the-narrative-around-mental-health-at-work.
- Foskett, R.L., and F. Longstaff. “Title of the Article.” Title of the Journal, vol. number, no. issue number, year, pp. page range. ScienceDirect, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1440244017318212.
- Friedrich, Sebastian. “Revenues, Salaries, and Salary Ratio of the Top 5 Leagues in Europe 2019/20 and 2020/21.” Football Finance, 29 Oct. 2021, www.footballfinance.de/en/post/revenues-salaries-and-salary-ratio-of-the-top-5-leagues-in-europe-2019-20-and-2020-21.
- Bloomfield, Jack. “Mental Health in the Soccer World.” Duke Writing Center, Duke University, 14 Feb. 2018, sites.duke.edu/wcwp/2018/02/14/mental-health-in-the-soccer-world/.
Sprockets and Springes 