Just read about Dean Windass and his battle against depression since he retired two years ago. Honest man and a top pro who is sadly going through the ringer. Just shows that money and fame can't buy you happiness or contentment.
mental illness affects 1 in 4 at some time in their lives, so statistically there will be a lot of footballers who also suffer. Many footballers, as Dean himself points out have dedicated themselves to football to the exclusion of all else from a very early age, and have little to fall back on once they give up football. Also they get used to spending like the tap will never be turned off, and also many have alcohol and/or gambling issues, so the money doesn't last - a recipe for disaster.
An interesting question here...do you think in 20 years time or so, we'll be hearing modern day footballers talk about this? Considering they're on FAR more pennies now, with players like Messi and Ronaldo on something well over 10-15m a year on wages alone.
I think it will always be a problem. Not every footballer is in the "messi" league of earners, and as income rises, so do their tastes in spending. If you are on £10,000 per week then you may bet £1000 a time. if you are on £100,000 per week then maybe the bets are £20,000. In addition I think many footballers miss the adulation which comes with being a footballer, and the ability to get in anywhere just because of who you are, or rather were!
Only thing I can't understand is why they aren't satisfied with the money they get. Still like every other illness it is sometimes very difficult to defeat. Bit like me and smoking I guess.
That Dean Windass story was shocking, to think we could be sitting here talking about a second suicide in a few months. It just shows that footballers are not so different from us lot, and that money isn't really worth that much at all.
Imagine the adoration, the buzz and the money, how do you come down from that? I think Conman that maybe in 20 years it will be out in the open more, but I'm not sure it is directly related to massive earnings, as I feel its a combination of factors. Good luck to Dean, hope he sorts stuff out. Indeed, mental health issues are not uncommon, and hopefully there will be services to support ex pros that accept that they are not coping. And of course for the general public.
End of the day there are far worse off people with depression etc then footballers. A hell of alot of people have it, but because it is not easily seen as itis not physical it is swept under the carpet.
Without preaching i think in modern life people look to the wrong things to top up their joy cells and though money is important there are other things in life that can make us content and young people should be careful when craving celebrety the examples are numerous Best, Barrymore,George Michael, Gazza Amy Winehouse you could just gomussay i am happy having a good family ,friends an and on i t
I quite like the new mental health advert that is running at the moment. For someone who has had someone very close to me suffer from mental health I can understand, theimpact it can have on a persona and the family. Having said that it is all very well people saying I'd love to have a bit of depression with the money he is on. Depression isn't something that you can help or cure easily. You might as well say I'd have his cancer as well as his money. - this is part of the problem with mental health issues. Like anything the amount of money you are on has no real bearing to your general well being.
True but most if not all footballers have the means to have private counselling. Their are only 7 Pre Cog centres in the uk, 6 are dotted around one is private. Pre Cog therapy is were they look at your past etc to see how it has affected your life. Much better then the old counsellors that tend to paper over your illness then sort it out for real. The goverment don't give a **** about mental illness as it is basically hidden from view. We are just lucky as Southampton has a Pre Cog Centre, but much more needs to be done by the Goverment to help mental health sufferers.
