Almost a quarter of current and former professionals surveyed during the coronavirus pandemic say they are depressed or have considered self-harm.
The Professional Footballers’ Association spoke to 262 members between mid-April and mid-May to assess the impact of the crisis on them.
It found that 57 of those individuals (22 per cent) felt depressed or had considered harming themselves. Among current players, that figure was six per cent.
“Off the back of that you get the stress, the anxiety and the depression that come from that.”
Out of the survey group, 177 required support around well-being, education and career and employment/contractual services.
Thirty-two of the 177 requested the opportunity to speak directly with a counsellor or therapist and were directly contacted, provided they authorised contact.
The PFA charity paid out 100 per cent more in benevolent funds in April compared to March as it responded to the Covid-19 crisis.
