Burnley s Aaron Lennon hopes his openness about mental health issues have helped normalise the subject among professional football players.
Lennon was detained under the UK s Mental Health Act in May 2017 over concerns about his wellbeing, during his time at Everton.
The 31-year-old is confident the worst of the stress-related illness he was suffering from is behind him, and now hopes to be a role model for his peers.
There s probably a lot of footballers who don t want to come and speak about it but it s just normal, Lennon said. There s going to be spells where you don t feel so great and there s going to be spells where you do feel great.
Hopefully it opens the door for people to say, OK, I m not feeling good. There s so much help out there and hopefully I can be an example that you might be going through a tough time but you can get back to where you want to be, enjoying football, enjoying life again.
Lennon has been a reinvigorated figure since moving to Burnley in January, thriving under the positive environment Sean Dyche has helped cultivate.
Touch wood, I ve been really good since. You learn a lot about yourself during those periods, Lennon said. I had to take a look at myself, but I ve got a great family, great friends and the clubs I ve been at have been fantastic.
Everyone s different. I can see why people might think it s a constant battle. I feel great, it doesn t cross my mind. You do look back and say, Wow, I can t believe I was in that place.
Meanwhile, Dyche has welcomed a change in attitude towards the subject of mental health, praising footballers for openly attempting to handle the psychological demands of profession.
It was the get on with it mentality when I was playing, and we all know that s changed now, the Burnley manager said.
There s way more support out there. I think players have got more belief in the system now, there s a deeper care and attention and understanding of the challenges.
I have nothing but admiration for players. I think it s an all-time high of demand.
