Dean Windass!

[Drover]

What a shocker that is.Just has surprising as Gary Speed.My first thought was is whats going on?Both players having a career many footballers can only dream of.Then I thought,maybe its their current successful career ending thats causing them problems.I know some fans don't like him(Dean),but for me he was a professional player,very good at doing his job needed and I always wished we could have signed him at anytime of his career.I don't mind admittinbg when he played for the opposition,I loved to hate him,purely through jealously and jealously alone.The same way I admired and was jealous of when Billy played for the opposition.Hope he gets the help needed and recovers well.

[Spud]

Big big man for coming out and telling the world. Think there`s probably a lot more similar stories in all walks of life football included. The more aware we are as a society the better.
Get well soon Dean.

[RobTheRover]

Very brave, and obviously a cry for help.

Hope he gets it.  Get well soon, Windyarse.

[Pintolager]

I watched Andrew Flintoff's programme a few days ago which talked to different sports personalities who have gone through depression (not just footballers) and it made me realise just how many people in the sporting world are going through testing times like this? It's very easy for us to think that footballers have it easy and think what do they have to worry about, but none of us can ever put ourselves in their situation. I sincerely hope that DW gets the help he needs to get him through this turbulent time.

There is still a long way to go before society takes mental illness seriously.

[keyser_soze]

I've always thought it's a great life in your prime, but to be washed up and having to find a new career around my own age (34) when it's all you've ever known or wanted (many don't plan as they've never considered anything other than a football career) must be difficult.

[Spud]

I watched Andrew Flintoff's programme a few days ago which talked to different sports personalities who have gone through depression (not just footballers) and it made me realise just how many people in the sporting world are going through testing times like this? It's very easy for us to think that footballers have it easy and think what do they have to worry about, but none of us can ever put ourselves in their situation. I sincerely hope that DW gets the help he needs to get him through this turbulent time.

There is still a long way to go before society takes mental illness seriously.

Meant to watch that, was it on bbc? Will try the iplayer if so.

[RedJ]

It was Spud.


I have to say I was shocked that Flintoff was suffering with it, he doesn't even seem the kind of fella to be depressed. Then again, I suppose that just highlights the problems surrounding depression and other similar diseases.

[Spud]

I think the main problem is for modern day sports men/women is that the highs and therefore lows are so extreme due to the high profile of most sports. It seems at least that these mental issues are being recognised more now even if we have a way to go.

[Chris Black come back]

I always think that in many ways Windass is very much like Billy. Always a player you hated having playing against you. Biggest praise you could give him really.

[jucyberry]

There is sadly the train of thought that if you have everything you must be happy, be it, sucessful job , money, new babies..All the things that are supposed to be good sometimes come with a high price tag..

Depression is a black devil that attatches it's self to the very fibre of a persons being, insidious creeping filthy tentacles that drain the joy out of living, that sneaks up on you dragging you down until you cannot see the light. it is the only way I can describe it.

Many ailments can be directly attributed to a psychosommatic illnesses, the mind can make the body do crazy things..

It makes no concessions.

sadly there is still so much stigma involved with mental health issues even tho one in four of us will at some point suffer from it in one form or another.

When Gary Speed took his life the cry was why did a man who has everything do that, when really the one thing he didn't have was peace of mind.. Our brains, our minds keep us alive, sadly sometimes that mind turns against us.

[Pintolager]

There is sadly the train of thought that if you have everything you must be happy, be it, sucessful job , money, new babies..All the things that are supposed to be good sometimes come with a high price tag..

Depression is a black devil that attatches it's self to the very fibre of a persons being, insidious creeping filthy tentacles that drain the joy out of living, that sneaks up on you dragging you down until you cannot see the light. it is the only way I can describe it.

Many ailments can be directly attributed to a psychosommatic illnesses, the mind can make the body do crazy things..

It makes no concessions.

sadly there is still so much stigma involved with mental health issues even tho one in four of us will at some point suffer from it in one form or another.

When Gary Speed took his life the cry was why did a man who has everything do that, when really the one thing he didn't have was peace of mind.. Our brains, our minds keep us alive, sadly sometimes that mind turns against us.

Deb, you have put things into words far better than I can. It is time everybody looked at this illness seriously and understand that in one way or another, we can all be caught up in this!