Don’t think it’s wrong to ask for help.. you can do it
DAVID MITCHELL has urged others in the game not to fall into the trap of thinking they must suffer in silence, telling them: “There is nothing wrong with you.”
The Partick Thistle keeper raised money for Back Onside by climbing Goatfell in Arran with friends yesterday.
The charity helped him find ways to cope with the mental side of football and he said: “If you don’t know what you’re doing there are people out there who can help, Back Onside being one.
“There are sports psychologists, there are psychologists, speak to them.
“You might think, ‘I’m fine, I’m not depressed’ – it is not about that.
“Players go to the gym to look after their bodies, it’s repetition after repetition. It is the exact same thing with the mental side of the game – it is just constant repetition to make you stronger.
“Don’t fall into the trap of, ‘I can’t say that in front of boys because they’ll not trust me or they’ll think I’m s***e or that something’s wrong with me.’ There is nothing wrong with you.”
The 34-year-old is urging clubs to do more to ensure others get support like he did.
In April, the charity announced they would have to shut a 24/7 crisis line for folk in all walks of life due to lack of funds.
Hibs and Elgin City partnered with them towards the end of 2022 and Mitchell said: “They need the help from clubs.
“I don’t think clubs understand just how many players they’re helping at their club.
“You can’t just keep taking and taking and taking and not give anything, there needs to be something.
“I’ve spoken to people at Thistle to try to move forward with helping them.
“They’re more than happy to do what they can so I’m going to keep pushing that side of things.”
● Visit justgiving.com/page/ davidmitchell-1713876302949 to donate to David’s challenge.