Luke opens up on mental health battle and criticism
Luke O’Nien has opened up about his mental health and how it has been impacted by social media attention.
The 28-year-old is looking to improve what he sees as the lack of psychological support inacademyfootball.Alongwith Rob Blackburne, his mentor and host of the Footballers' Mindset Podcast, the Sunderland man is offering seminars, audiobooks and expertise focusing on the mental needs of young players.
In the interview, O’Nien goes into detail regarding the mental challenges of the game during his time at Sunderland and talks about his debut for the club against Charlton Athletic at the Stadium of Light in League One back in 2018.
"I was a jigsaw made of many pieces to this point but didn't know how to piece it together,” O’Nien said.
“But it was clear I had been missing a key part when my Sunderland career started negatively and there soon followed a bit of an identity crisis.
"I was trying to understand why I suddenly had no confidence,whyIfeltlikeIdidn'tbelong.IhadgonefromWycombe toSunderland,whichwasabig step up.
"I made a few mistakes in front of 35,000 people and had been taken off on my debut after 45 minutes live on Sky. Not the dream start I hoped for.
"It really hit me hard for months.Ihadarticlesandnegative social media coming out about me left, right and centre. There was talk of shipping me out in the January transfer window.
"Every person told me that if you do well here at Sunderland, you will have the best years of your life but I was far, far away from meeting those expectations.Itwaskillingme. I felt like an imposter. I could not find a rhythm.”