Shocking stuff. It sounds like the club didn;t do as much as it could have either which is also shocking. We are a family club and have a reputation for breaking down social exclusion. Maybe depression is something to focus on in the future?
Its also not the first time that one of the players has talked about the problems associated with being kept at the hotel in Bexleyheath for long periods of time. Maybe the club should invest in a property for these players rather than alwyas sticking them in a hotel, and a rather business-style short-stay hotel at that.
Back in the day players went into digs or club houses.
Different times though.
Indeed maybe now that these are somewhat richer times the owners could be encouraged to invest in a house again? It can't do the player any good physically to be sleeping in hotel beds all the time either.
Very sad story and very scary what can happen to someone living with such a terrible thing. I wonder where all those are who said players aren't affected by what fans shout, booing etc?
Another footballer who suffered from depression was Sebastian Deisler - German international and Bayern Munich player, seriously talented but devilled by injuries which took a mental toll. Eventually he was hospitalised suffering from depression and concluded that the problem was that he couldn't cope with the expectations and consequently retired early. He's still young, early 30s I think.
Tommy Caton and Stewart Leary both took their own lives.
I thought Caton had a heart attack
Whatever the truth was he had a serious alcohol problem.
I recall that the cause of Catons death following the post mortem was Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. I was working with a doctor who was a big Arsenal fan at the time and remember discussing with him.
Like many others on here, met him whilst he was with us and he was so friendly and personable to everyone. I remember discussing with him a banner someone had unfurled at a game from the North Upper which read "Parky, give Leon a chance' and he was genuinley touched by that.
Suprised to read the article this morning, hope he's come out the other side alright and it's all behind him.
Very sad story and very scary what can happen to someone living with such a terrible thing. I wonder where all those are who said players aren't affected by what fans shout, booing etc?
To be fair Leon clearly states that it was not playing / injuries, the death of his sister and his marriage breakdown that led to his problems, not fans attitude.
Tommy Caton and Stewart Leary both took their own lives.
Stuart Leary went out with my grandma after my grandad died in the 60s and he wanted to move her and her children to South Africa but she didn't want to move. She often talks about him.
Very sad story and very scary what can happen to someone living with such a terrible thing. I wonder where all those are who said players aren't affected by what fans shout, booing etc?
To be fair Leon clearly states that it was not playing / injuries, the death of his sister and his marriage breakdown that led to his problems, not fans attitude.
True but he also said:
"Then it started. "Ah, you're injured again, you're injury-prone". Media, fans, the manager were all on my case.
People think you are paid thousands so you just get on with it."
Which to me suggests that what was being said about him didn't help.
Shocking stuff. It sounds like the club didn;t do as much as it could have either which is also shocking. We are a family club and have a reputation for breaking down social exclusion. Maybe depression is something to focus on in the future?
Its also not the first time that one of the players has talked about the problems associated with being kept at the hotel in Bexleyheath for long periods of time. Maybe the club should invest in a property for these players rather than alwyas sticking them in a hotel, and a rather business-style short-stay hotel at that.
Back in the day players went into digs or club houses.
Different times though.
Interesting point Len. I think most people would see that the days of players being in nice hotels as a positive things, but I wonder if the model of living with a family might be better (in some ways) for the younger lads.
Its a difficult thing to understand / diagnose. Do certain people just have it and it will happen no matter what or does it get triggered or is stress a factor that builds up and burns up the brain and anybody could suffer or is it a mixture of all those things. Very difficult to say and i dare say the experts don't really know. Robbie Fowler is another who seemed to lose it almost over night.
Len is spot on. There have been worries in the past re Moo2, Youga and much more recently, the weird and seriously worryingTweets from Nathan Ecclestone. We have previously discussed this on CL but players seem to be mere commodities these days. I'd like to think that Charlton could be more pro-active and attuned to psychological risk factors.
i don't think being stuck in a hotel is the issue - its an internal brain thing and boredom or loneliness will not cause depression in my opinion. It may make you feel low but that is not depression.
Its a difficult thing to understand / diagnose. Do certain people just have it and it will happen no matter what or does it get triggered or is stress a factor that builds up and burns up the brain and anybody could suffer or is it a mixture of all those things. Very difficult to say and i dare say the experts don't really know. Robbie Fowler is another who seemed to lose it almost over night.
One view is that depression is not a 'chemical deficiency' but a self constructed prison which people build around themselves as a defense from things that they fear. There does appear to be a genetic factor, but this may just be the fact that living with a depressed person is seriously depressing. Anyone can become depressed, I might even argue that if you're not depressed in this society, then there's something wrong with you!
Len is spot on. There have been worries in the past re Moo2, Youga and much more recently, the weird and seriously worryingTweets from Nathan Ecclestone. We have previously discussed this on CL but players seem to be mere commodities these days. I'd like to think that Charlton could be more pro-active and attuned to psychological risk factors.
I didn't think his tweeting activity was weird, just the consequence of a bored kid in a hotel with nothing to do but play on his X-box and PC or visit Nando's in Bexleyheath.
Some players for whatever reason simply do not settle at clubs, just as some employees do not settle in companies that employ them, it doesn't necesarily lead to depression, but may eacerbate a condition that already exists but is latent.
Len is spot on. There have been worries in the past re Moo2, Youga and much more recently, the weird and seriously worryingTweets from Nathan Ecclestone. We have previously discussed this on CL but players seem to be mere commodities these days. I'd like to think that Charlton could be more pro-active and attuned to psychological risk factors.
I didn't think his tweeting activity was weird, just the consequence of a bored kid in a hotel with nothing to do but play on his X-box and PC or visit Nando's in Bexleyheath.
Some players for whatever reason simply do not settle at clubs, just as some employees do not settle in companies that employ them, it doesn't necesarily lead to depression, but may eacerbate a condition that already exists but is latent.
There was one particular evening when he was seriously weird, way beyond the noxious bored kid stuff. I do remember several of us were worried at the time, and there was genuine cause for concern - trust me on this one.
I think a lot more sportsmen than have come out have suffered and maybe even not seeked help for depression
I think you're right. Successful one's because once they've achieved their gold medal (or whatever it is in their particular sport) it's like knowing that they've had the highlight of their life and nothing else will be as good; unsuccessful ones, because they strive all the way through their best years only to fail on the ultimate achievement. I'm not saying it'll effect all or even most, but I think the whole single-minded one-aimness of professional sport can't really be good for the psyche.
I think a lot more sportsmen than have come out have suffered and maybe even not seeked help for depression
I think you're right. Successful one's because once they've achieved their gold medal (or whatever it is in their particular sport) it's like knowing that they've had the highlight of their life and nothing else will be as good; unsuccessful ones, because they strive all the way through their best years only to fail on the ultimate achievement. I'm not saying it'll effect all or even most, but I think the whole single-minded one-aimness of professional sport can't really be good for the psyche.
don't agree with this - depression is an illness and im pretty sure its genetic and is waiting to be triggered - it can happen to anybody regardless of whether a sportsman or whatever - Gasgoine would have been a nut job whatever and if anything, the football saved him for a little while at least. I think it is treatable however if the person recognises and accepts it.
Depression may be an illness but that doesn't mean that it exists in isolation from real word experiences. Like any physical illness it may be exacerbated or ameliorated by the living conditions of the person that has it.
Does money make you happy? In some way it can and it does, but the most important thing in a persons life is the people around them, family, friends etc
Comments
Indeed maybe now that these are somewhat richer times the owners could be encouraged to invest in a house again? It can't do the player any good physically to be sleeping in hotel beds all the time either.
Whatever the truth was he had a serious alcohol problem.
Derbyshire captain Luke Sutton retires from cricket
People think you are paid thousands so you just get on with it."
Generally, it is a gradual decline of worry, pressure, stress and burn out before they find they can't cope any more.
And then a key thing happens that can push them over the edge.
One view is that depression is not a 'chemical deficiency' but a self constructed prison which people build around themselves as a defense from things that they fear. There does appear to be a genetic factor, but this may just be the fact that living with a depressed person is seriously depressing. Anyone can become depressed, I might even argue that if you're not depressed in this society, then there's something wrong with you!
I didn't think his tweeting activity was weird, just the consequence of a bored kid in a hotel with nothing to do but play on his X-box and PC or visit Nando's in Bexleyheath.
Some players for whatever reason simply do not settle at clubs, just as some employees do not settle in companies that employ them, it doesn't necesarily lead to depression, but may eacerbate a condition that already exists but is latent.
There was one particular evening when he was seriously weird, way beyond the noxious bored kid stuff. I do remember several of us were worried at the time, and there was genuine cause for concern - trust me on this one.
Ricky Whittle comment made him laugh and give me a dig in the ribs!
Best of luck to him.