When winners need help

摘要

What connects these individuals: Frank Bruno, Dame Kelly Holmes, Marcus Trescothick and Aaron Lennon? If you said are all are winners you would be correct: if you said all are elite sports individuals, again correct. But there is something else: they all reported having mental health concerns either whilst performing or shortly after retiring. Boxer Frank Bruno has bipolar disorder and depression and has been admitted to psychiatric wards several times since giving up the sport. Dame Kelly Holmes was battling depression in the lead-up to the 2004 Olympics. Marcus Trescothick (pictured opposite) was playing cricket for England when depression forced his retirement. In May this year Premiership footballer Aaron Lennon was detained under the Mental Health Act for his own protection and has been receiving treatment for a stress-related illness.