JASON ROY: I know how Farrell feels... finally we can be honest if we are struggling
JASON ROY has applauded Owen Farrell’s decision to put his family first and withdraw from England’s Six Nations rugby campaign.
The World Cup-winning England batter has experienced his own mental health issues.
And the 33-year-old believes rugby union skipper Farrell’s decision provides another example of how the debate around the subject is being normalised – and the role high-profile sporting figures can play in inspiring others to discuss their problems.
Roy – an ambassador for Spabreaks. com (below) and their ‘Spa a Thought’ campaign – said: “It’s amazing to see what Owen is doing – putting his family first.
“At the end of the day that’s the be-all and endall for every sportsman.
“Owen has come out and said what he has said, and everyone is on his side. Everyone is backing him and saying, ‘What a decision, what a man’.
“If you had done that even three years ago there would still be some who would have frowned on it. “We’ve come a long way. “But it’s about how they combat everything they’re being asked to deal with. For myself, being away for such long periods of time is tough.
“I’ve got a young family and a fouryear-old who now realises what me being away actually means. “That makes it harder and harder. “It’s difficult... but it is so much easier to deal with than it was a couple of years ago. There are more people to talk to and there’s a great understanding around it.’’
This year has been tough for Roy.
Dropped on the eve of England’s illfated World Cup campaign in India, he admits that he has struggled with everything the sport has thrown at him. He revealed: “The last few months have been extremely painful.
“Anxiety, all these emotions that you go through just ebb and flow like a rollercoaster.
“I’m happy to see the back of it and start playing cricket again.
“Even if you talk about it and you have someone to talk to and you let your emotions out, things can still get messy in your head.
“You find yourself getting wound up by your own thoughts. You wake up in the middle of the night and you’re awake for three hours. It affects your sleep – it’s like an ongoing cycle.
“Even if you talk about it, it still builds up. At the end of the day, when the big breakdowns happen, I’ve had moments in my career when I’ve not spoken to anyone. I’ve held it in.
“I’ve got a duck, I’ll be fine. I’ve got another duck, but I’m fine. I’m away from my family for two months but I’ll be fine. You’re NOT fine, but you just pretend you are. “Then all of a sudden it hits you. “You’re trying to be the sportsman that you are, the professional athlete that you are, the man of the house, all that kind of stuff.
“I can only speak for cricket and, yep, we do spend a hell of a lot of time away from home. I’m now home for a few weeks over Christmas, and then I won’t be back until the end of April.
“But it’s not just being away, you have to perform as well.
“Cricket is a volatile game, and no matter how hard you’re working at your game, or your diet or in the gym, you can still get a good ball first up and you’re out. You go back to your hotel room, go to bed, wake up – it can be very lonely.
“But now mental health is part of the game, everyone understands it. There’s far more information about it... and it’s brilliant.’’