For the 96 we lost at Hillsborough,
You'll never walk alone
Contents
Why I have to do this
Chapter One: Founding FAD FC
Chapter Two: What is Mental Health
Chapter Three: A guide to positive mental health
i: Explaining Anxiety and depression
ii: Behaviours relating to depression and anxiety
iii: Treatment and recovery
iiii: Understanding Medication
Chapter Four: A Guide For Coaches
Chapter Five: True Stories
Chapter Six: Useful Contacts
Why I have to do this
After suffering with mental health issues myself caused by Football, I had to stay out of the game for 17 years until I recovered and grieved the loss of my playing career with help from my GP and my counsellor.
After returning to Football, well, acknowledging the game anyway, I began to research mental health, especially within Football clubs and players. I were shocked to find out just how many other ex and current players are suffering and have suffered just like I did. I then decided to write a simple easy to read and understand guide on mental health, targeting footballers in particular. Suffering depression is hard enough, but when the people you love don't understand how Football can make you feel this way, the suffering becomes unbearable. If I can help just one football player then this guide has done it's job.
I just hope the advice and guidance helps you just as much as it did me.
Acknowledgements
Firstly and most importantly I would like to thank my GP, Dr Gordon and my counsellor Penny, who have been there for me for many hours, probably bored to death listening to me ramble on about Football, also thanks to TAMHI FC (Tackling Awareness of Mental Health Issues Football Community), for your invaluable efforts which gave me courage to carry on. To Rick Wakefield and John Purkiss for teaching me so well, a massive thank you to Albert Frimpong at Sports and Youth Development Organisation for filming with me and giving me the opportunity to work with you, also Tamsin and Eddie Edwards at the RollaBall movie films, thank you to Jason Tune for your advice and knowledge in which got me writing in the first place.
Chapter One:
Founding FAD FC
Football's Awareness of Depression Football Community were actually founded by myself in September 2012 after a Seventeen year battle with depression. An organisation where people suffering with or have suffered with mental health issues caused by or related to Football can come together and share their stories and experiences with other people like wise. After suddenly losing my own playing career, I went into a massive spiral of self destruction and although I tried to return to the game several times, I could not focus, I hid away, trying to pretend that Football didn't even exist. The aim of FAD FC is to help, support and provide people struggling like I did, with a place where they can come and talk, share their stories, and to get involved in Football again. Me personally still cannot face Football players, but I still wanted to be involved in the game somehow, and so writing about it is my own way of coping with my loss of my own career
