Cricketers depression

Just watched the Freddie Flintoff programme on TV about his own and fellow cricketers depression. He also talks to other sports stars who have had depression in their active careers and after retirement.

(Cricket does seem to have a higher rate of depression, even suicides than other sports.)

Cricket can cause those with a tendancy to depression to face problems such as long periods away from home, being away from family for long periods, whether you're an international cricketer or a county professional. And the waiting around worrying how you will perform whilst in the dressing room, and even about your own cricket stats.

He was trying to tell Piers Morgan (former newspaper editor) that the press made some players depression worse by berating players, (which could apply to all sports) but Morgan turned it back on Flintoff by saying that when he was captain he should not have allowed players whom he knew to have some degree of depression to be anywhere near the England team.

In recent years we have had Yardy, Trescothick,Tait, O'Brien, Flintoff and several others who have suffered from varying degrees of depression. Is there anything that can be done to help players with a tendancy for depression or is cricket by it's very nature going to keep on having problems of this sort. I think that some players think of this subject as taboo and hence suffer in silence, or maybe do not want to put their place in a team in jeopardy or even financial reasons about when their careers end or do not take off as expected.

Is this a new thing among professional cricketers with all the extra duties to perform and pressure from media and in some cases the fans because in the past I can not recall any cricketers who have mentioned this even though they used to sail to and back from Australia and were away from home for even longer periods of time.

Should medical teams give players assessments and monitor them if they suspect problems with certain individuals or should a greater understanding of the problem be taught to young county players.

A bit of a sad subject but any thoughts guys.

I don't think it's particularly an issue relating to cricketers - there have been several cases in football including the suicide of the German keeper a couple of year ago, and John Kirwan, the great All Black winger, is now a great campaigner on depression awareness in NZ after his struggles.

Having said that, I do wonder whether cricket tends to draw people who are more susceptible to depressive feelings, as it is a game that favours some degree of introspection. Also, the amount of time spent sitting around during the game may not be the best for guys with a tendency towards depression.

The best that can be done is to ensure that players have the medical and psychiatric support they require especially when on tour. At the very least, knowing that such support is available just down the corridor should be sufficient to help players at the lowest points of their depression.

I think the sheer amount of time spent on the road certainly conrtibutes to be it being more prevelant in cricket. Also its possibly more noticewbale than in some sprots wher elathough its a team game indivudal performances are very measurelable, and the mental side plays an enourmous part.
Its not a sport where one can hide or have an off day without it being noticed.

From the little I understand from depression it has something to do with a chemical imbalance in the brain.

The question though is how much of this depression is in actual fact due to an imbalance or self inflicted in the sense of when a player doesn't perform he turns inward and feels sorry for himself.

If it is not a medical depression then it should be easily averted by educating players about how to handle themselves whether it is their performance, their travelling or problems at home that is affecting them.

And of course having a sports psychologist available for players.

Biltong

You are correct, that clinical depression is actually a chemical imbalance relating to blood oxygenation around the brain - that's why anti-depresant tablets can be somewhat effective, as they alleviate this imbalance.

Depression is not the same as just being a bit down, which can happen to anyone. Having said that, up to about 1 in 10 people will have an episode of depression in their life, and for many it is a recurring condition.

Thanks for your thoughts guys, and good points on medical/psychology help being on hand if needed.

It does appear that all the time away on tour and the amount of time to reflect (around your team) after a poor run of performances plays a big part in this for some players.

Only as an example: The pressure on Ricky Ponting, his poor run must have made him feel down for long periods. Press and fans on his back, and then if he got out early in the day, the cameras would constantly show him sitting alone looking glum for much of the day. Too much time to think?

Not a nice subject matter, but after watching Flintoff's programme, one that I thought merited a discussion, because as the programme stated the problem is more prevalent in cricket than other sports.

I would agree that cricket would be different than any other sport.

When you tour for rugby, in the super XV you are away for maximum of 4 weeks, even in the Tri Nations it was at most just over 3 weekends, which depending when you travel would not be a full three weeks.

Cricket test series takes you away from home for months at a time.

The other difference is the extreme periods cricketers have to concentrate compared to other sports where a match is at most 2 hours long.