For a while: Sixfold the number of mentally troubled football players

The number of professional football players seeking mental treatment has increased sixfold over the past six years, according to statistics compiled by Sporting Chamce and the Association of Professional Footballers (PFA).

Since 2013 when Sporting Chance launched the national network of medical consultants, psychologists and psychotherapists in the name of PFA a total of 1666 football players and former football players have received assistance, writes The Independent, Periscopi.

By 2013 60 members of English leagues were treated by Sporting Chance. By 2018 the number had increased to 438.

We believe that increasing the number of players receiving treatment is a number of factors. Clubs are offering players education through us and the PFA is increasing awareness of the problems that players face and giving them a clear linear route to receive treatment through our services. ”

Michael Bennett, head of the players' well-being at the PFA, said Gary Speed's death in 2011 alarmed authorities who ruled with football for mental stress and other barriers that are temporary in the modern game.

I think Gary Speed's suicide made people sit and think. This man had played most of the games at Premier League, managing the national Wales, and had taken his life. People couldn't understand why. ”

Then, he explains, many soccer players sought help.

Last year, mental problems had been the star of Tottenham Hotspur, Danny Rose, who had even talked about it openly. /Periscope