Depression in Sport

[thejuice]

While I didn't see this program, I've read reports and research by the Sports Legacy Institute in the USA. They have been doing research and tests on former athletes to see what toll that playing professional sports has taken on their lives. They found, in former NFL players , boxers, Rugby players and wrestlers in particular being more susceptible to suffering mental illness' including depression later in life.

They did brain scans on some of these players to find that their brains showed signs of the early onset of dementia. They took samples of brain  tissue from some former NFL players who had committed suicide, as well as from Chris Benoit. They found that there was severe damage done to certain nodes in their brains, most likely from repetitive trauma and concussions.

Now you don't want to set the dangerous precedent that anyone who suffers from these illness' or partakes in violent sports will potentially end up like Benoit. However it can't be ignored that there is a correlation between the two. A case could possibly be made that for instance Frank Bruno, maybe even our own Darren Sutherland, their condition was brought on by head trauma.

[Sandino]

I have yet to see this show but I intend to watch it. Depression is a very serious problem for lots of people. Men in particular may have issues over communicating their feelings and this can lead to very serious consequences for some. It is a matter that should not be trivialised. I have seen an article recently about a man with mental health issues who got into the bear pit in Bern, Switzerland. The bear did some serious damages to the poor man. The rag continually used judgemental language and referred to him as, a nutter' crazy etc. This type of language does a lot to stereotype those with mental health issues making it difficult for some people to share their feelings and ensures that depression may remain hidden until a major episode. In the news paper article there was more compassion for the 'poor bear' that was shot after the attack than there was for the man. Fair play to these high profile guys for being open and honest about their illness. Its easy to attack the Sunday World about its use of 'that photo' but we as a people need to look at how we view those with mental health issues and the language we use when discussing this topic

[johnneycool]

I was always of the opinion that depression was a load of bollocks, just people who were feeling sorry for themselves and all that sort of uneducated trivialisation until I got talking to a work collegue who i'd knew well for quite a while and he told me that he was suffering from depression.

He told me that the thought of suicide was almost always on his mind, the likes of driving home and meeting a lorry coming the other way, about thinking very seriously about trying to drive into the back wheels of the trailer as not to harm the driver and other scenarios like that. He was on some form of tablets to control it, but I have to say he was as normal as anyone and it certainly was an eye opener for pig ignorant me.

[Sandino]

Johnny there are many people who live their lives like that every day. The public person is very different to the private person. As a country we also need to acknowledge the role of alcohol misuse in depression. It only takes a few incidents in ones life to raise the spectre of depression for anyone.

[Dannymcfella]

Surprised at that - isnt it generally swept under the carpet - 'best fans in the world' after all...

Any one wanna take a punt what this means??

[lurganblue]

Maybe it was the depression that drove Lennon to cheat on the mother of his children with some young 'un.

Are you the gaurdian of morality perchance?

No but I am able to give my opinion on him.

You're some boy abusing a man suffering from depression. And him a Lorgun mon too.

if I was from Lurgan I'd be depressed too...  boom! boom!

Well it's a valid point. The seeds of mental health issues can be sown (not sewn, right O'Neill?) during childhood so growing up in Lurgan may have done it to him.

easy now fellas!
it could be worse... he could have grew up in portadown 

[muppet]

I was always of the opinion that depression was a load of bollocks, just people who were feeling sorry for themselves and all that sort of uneducated trivialisation until I got talking to a work collegue who i'd knew well for quite a while and he told me that he was suffering from depression.

He told me that the thought of suicide was almost always on his mind, the likes of driving home and meeting a lorry coming the other way, about thinking very seriously about trying to drive into the back wheels of the trailer as not to harm the driver and other scenarios like that. He was on some form of tablets to control it, but I have to say he was as normal as anyone and it certainly was an eye opener for pig ignorant me.

I was much the same until I read that depression is often caused by a chemical released somewhere in the brain thus making it involuntary.

The programme was very good. I found John Kirwan & the little bit on Ronnie O'Sullivan the most interesting but that would be a personal preference. I hope if they do a follow up that they persuade Paul McGrath to contribute. As anyone who has read his book will testify, he has some story to tell.

[Rav67]

I was always of the opinion that depression was a load of bollocks, just people who were feeling sorry for themselves and all that sort of uneducated trivialisation until I got talking to a work collegue who i'd knew well for quite a while and he told me that he was suffering from depression.

He told me that the thought of suicide was almost always on his mind, the likes of driving home and meeting a lorry coming the other way, about thinking very seriously about trying to drive into the back wheels of the trailer as not to harm the driver and other scenarios like that. He was on some form of tablets to control it, but I have to say he was as normal as anyone and it certainly was an eye opener for pig ignorant me.

I was much the same until I read that depression is often caused by a chemical released somewhere in the brain thus making it involuntary.

The programme was very good. I found John Kirwan & the little bit on Ronnie O'Sullivan the most interesting but that would be a personal preference. I hope if they do a follow up that they persuade Paul McGrath to contribute. As anyone who has read his book will testify, he has some story to tell.

McGrath certainly had an incredibly tough upbringing which no doubt contributed to his difficulties in adult years, but I think what that programme was showing was that it can affect anyone even if they've tread what seems outwardly like a comfortable path in life.

[pintsofguinness]

I was always of the opinion that depression was a load of bollocks, just people who were feeling sorry for themselves and all that sort of uneducated trivialisation until I got talking to a work collegue who i'd knew well for quite a while and he told me that he was suffering from depression.

He told me that the thought of suicide was almost always on his mind, the likes of driving home and meeting a lorry coming the other way, about thinking very seriously about trying to drive into the back wheels of the trailer as not to harm the driver and other scenarios like that. He was on some form of tablets to control it, but I have to say he was as normal as anyone and it certainly was an eye opener for pig ignorant me.

Sadly I think that would still be a common opinion.

[muppet]

I was always of the opinion that depression was a load of bollocks, just people who were feeling sorry for themselves and all that sort of uneducated trivialisation until I got talking to a work collegue who i'd knew well for quite a while and he told me that he was suffering from depression.

He told me that the thought of suicide was almost always on his mind, the likes of driving home and meeting a lorry coming the other way, about thinking very seriously about trying to drive into the back wheels of the trailer as not to harm the driver and other scenarios like that. He was on some form of tablets to control it, but I have to say he was as normal as anyone and it certainly was an eye opener for pig ignorant me.

I was much the same until I read that depression is often caused by a chemical released somewhere in the brain thus making it involuntary.

The programme was very good. I found John Kirwan & the little bit on Ronnie O'Sullivan the most interesting but that would be a personal preference. I hope if they do a follow up that they persuade Paul McGrath to contribute. As anyone who has read his book will testify, he has some story to tell.

McGrath certainly had an incredibly tough upbringing which no doubt contributed to his difficulties in adult years, but I think what that programme was showing was that it can affect anyone even if they've tread what seems outwardly like a comfortable path in life.

True but it was also tackling a taboo with regard to sports, (John Gregory didn't come out of it too well). Using celebrities to raise awareness can break down barriers that us ordinary Joe's could never do.