Colly: We can help save lives
STAN COLLYMORE says football clubs deserve credit for the work they have done in helping to raise awareness of mental-health issues.
But the former Liverpool and Aston Villa star, who has been open about his own battle with mentalhealth problems over two decades, knows there is still more potentially lifesaving work to be done.
He said: “I’m delighted kick-off is being delayed by a minute in all of this weekend’s FA Cup ties to raise awareness about the subject.
“Twenty-one years ago this month, I went to see a doctor about the mentalhealth issues I was suffering from.
“That doctor told me I’d feel a lot better if I scored a couple of goals for Aston Villa against Kevin Keegan’s Fulham in the FA Cup.
“He’d be struck off if he told me that today, thankfully, which shows how far we have come in our understanding of mental-health issues over the past two decades.”
Collymore said the pioneering ‘Everton In The Community’ project was at the forefront of recent advances.
“They (Everton) have saved lives and other clubs are now doing it as well, although the conversation still needs to be louder to help those who are suffering,” he said.
Collymore called for all Premier League and EFL clubs to employ full-time mental-health specialists, and for players to be required to attend regular mental-health checks.
“And I’d like to see a greater general commitment from the FA, Premier League, EFL and PFA to supporting those in need as well,” he added.
“Things have come a long way in 21 years, this weekend’s initiative is proof of that.
“But, as I’ve said before, football needs to realise that mental issues have to be taken as seriously as, if not more than, muscle strains or broken bones.”