Is it courageous to speak up about mental health issues after a professional sporting loss? Many think it is, I beg to differ. After revealing his ‘battle with depression’ after the football world cup, Richarlison’s ‘courage’ for speaking up was heralded as ‘brave and courageous’. But is it? We are talking loosing a sporting contest, not life, limb or injury.
It’s all too human to feel depressed, sad, and hopeless after a defeat or some competitive outset. But when footballers discuss it, they heralded as valiant agents of grace.
After Brazil’s 2022 quarterfinal loss to Croatia, Richarlison revealed that he went through depression and considered quitting football. Speaking to ESPN Brazil, the Brazilian said:
“I was reaching my limit, you know? I don’t know, I’m not going to talk about killing myself, but I was in a depression there, and I wanted to give up. Even I, who seemed to be mentally strong, after the World Cup, it seemed like it all fell apart.
He went on to emphasise the ‘importance of seeking psychological assistance. “I think the therapist, like it or not, saved me, saved my life. I only thought rubbish… If you need a psychologist, look for one because it’s nice for you to open up like that, for you to be talking to the person.”
I am not denying that Richarlison went through this, nor am I claiming that he is exaggerating. Is he courageous for speaking up?
Many in the football world think so.Many jumped on the Richarlson bandwagon and lauded what was a ‘courageous’ move in their eyes.
Tottenham’s coach, Ange Postecoglu, was quick to heap praise on the Brazilian striker.
Richy’s really benefited from the support that does exist, not just for him but for others in the community. Because he has benefited so directly, I think he’s taken on the responsibility of trying to share that around now.
Richarlison is not the problem here, it is those who lionize him.
“It always makes more of an impact when it is somebody who is high profile or in a position where we think they shouldn’t have any problems or we see it as a sign of weakness when they’re looking for help and support.
It’s a credit to him. He could have dealt with this privately, I think the public aspect of it is a brave decision for him, but more importantly, it’s a great conduit to others to reach out and seek help when it’s required.
Credit to Richy, he’s sought help, he’s got help, the right help, and now he wants others to benefit from it.”
Why is Richarlison regarded as brave for revealing mental health struggles that arose after a World Cup match loss? Let’s put things into perspective here, Football players are paid millions of dollars to play football for a living, and people experience incomparable tragedy every day. We are not talking about microscopic brain surgery here, where failure could result in the death of a patient.
Football is not in the life-and-death business. Yet the moment a footballer comes out to talk about the struggles of coping with professional defeat, we don’t hesitate to lionize them and the cause regardless of circumstance.
There are many professions where depression and suicide are real concerns. For example, suicide and depression are common among surgeons in the U.S. Each year, approximately, 300–400 physicians commit suicide. Surgeons subjugate themselves to demanding hours of work without food, water, with little rest. The average surgeon works around 80 hours per week, so here is the cultural conversation about the mental health struggles of surgeons and nurses?
There’s a reason society regards certain feats, achievements, and acts of resilience as heroic. It is because some are responsible for saving life and some may even loose their life in the course of their professional duties. Whether its soldiers, first responders or airline pilots, there are dangerous professions were acts of valor are daily necessities, why don’t we ever pay attention to those kinds of people?
We are simply shallow as a society. Heralding heroism onto an athlete who just suffered a professional loss is not heroic. Lets face the fact here, Brazil was simply eliminated from the World Cup.
If a surgeon or a nurse came forward to discuss the unbearable demands of the medical profession, then we ought to listen. But sadly, we have been swept away with the illusion that the moment a footballer discusses an issue, it ought to be praised and worshipped.
We all have the right to complain, but that doesn’t mean we should indulge in that right. While footballers extol their mental health woes, there are countless numbers of nurses, surgeons, and firefighters who experience the unbearable and whose actions may determine the lives and deaths of others, it is time to stop hanging of the every word of football players. I understand that Richarlison experienced something very serious, but we need to stop praising them for revealing mental health challenges.
