Facing up to it

The other day I was having a conversation with a colleague when the subject of mental health among sportsmen and women came up. As our chat developed, we agreed that somehow – for whatever reason(s) – this seemed to be an issue that appeared to afflict players of cricket at least as much any other sport.

Afterwards, thinking more on the topic, I came to the conclusion that mental health issues in sport are complicated to a degree by the fact that those who suffer from them are reluctant to ‘out’ themselves and admit they are having problems. Partly – no doubt – this arises from feared embarrassment at revealing this highly personal aspect of themselves to their fellow players and/or opponents. Or even, when it comes to the latter (and their supporters?) the possibility that any admission of such problems will be taken as a ‘weakness’ to be exploited.

After all, especially at elite level, such great store is set by ‘the top two inches’, i.e. what is going on in the mind – in other words, the degree to which mental strength, determination and indeed sheer refusal to submit or accept defeat until the final whistle has been blown – tends to play its part in deciding the outcome of matches or contests.

In which context, here’s a link to an interview conducted by Donald McCrae with the frank and brave England cricketer Sarah Taylor, who had to take time out from the game, that appears today upon the website of  – THE GUARDIAN