- but the horse has still got to drink,” says Fitzpatrick. “You can’t force it to do so. There is a duty of care,
I’d say, but it ultimately lands at the feet of the athlete.”
Is it fair to assume that the authorities can only do so much in helping those in need? Trescothick suggests
so. “It’s only when you’re ready to talk about it when you get to that point [of seeking help]. It’s solely on
the player,” he says. “If the player doesn’t want to interact and engage then it’s very tricky.”
But aren’t we looking at it from the wrong angle? Instead of thinking what can we do to help those athletes
in crisis, shouldn’t we be thinking what can we do to stop them from reaching this stage in the first place?
For herein lies the crucial point: the current mental health agenda remains inherently reactive. The
structure and practices are in place to help those already in need. But only through a proactive, more
holistic approach can we hope to keep our athletes from drifting to the brink.
It’s an ambitious goal but one we must nonetheless work towards. Establishing parity between physical and
mental health is key to this, and only with appropriate funding and greater commitment from the relevant
governing bodies and clubs will it be achieved.
With the right focus, imagine the changes and measures that could be rolled out. More psychotherapists on
the ground to cultivate the correct philosophies among sportspeople. More independent and confidential
support spaces away from an athlete’s sport. Greater dedication to educating these individuals on mental
health – and making them aware of the triggers present in sport – from day one of their careers. More
initiatives and schemes to educate ourselves, in curbing our abuse and adjusting our expectations. Increased
efforts to remove those elements within sport – coaches, teammates, club values or practices and traditions
- which discourage struggling stars from accessing help or coerce them into silence.
Such is the complex and individualised nature of mental health, there will never be any hard and fast rules
to combatting the issues we face. What works for one individual may barely scratch the surface for another.
And we must also be aware that changing cultural attitudes and practices is no easy process – it’s one that
requires time and patience. But that isn’t to say there aren’t numerous options available to us in making the
necessary inroads to creating a culture that accommodates for mental health on a far greater scale.
Make no doubt: we’ve come a long way. Perceptions are changing, athletes are speaking out, the stigma is
slowly fading. But there’s still more to be done. The challenge, now, is casting aside the industry’s lingering
inner demons and striking a balance which preserves both the wellbeing of today’s athletes and those
thrilling, captivating features which make sport what it is.