Harmison Admits He May Have Had Depression

[NasserFan207]

We're talking cricket here right? The one where the gangly, the soft-spoken and the unathletic have performed?

Maybe in 1800s England, got a bit more professional since then tho.

 

[Burgey]

At the same time though, what if Strauss had led us to a 5-0 defeat in Australia? Who do you turn to when KP and Moores have a massive falling out?

**** happens for a reason. Fletcher's appaling management in 2006 has turned out to have massive benefits for England 5 years down the line.

A player's mental health is more important than a score line in any series. Coaches take in these roles which are as much about man management as technical prowess.

 

[Spikey]

I think English cricketers just have more of a precedent to be able to admit this kinda thing. I mean, Davies came out, so citing depression isn't a big deal anymore.

Depression is a horrible illness btw.

Marcus Trescothick effect obviously. ssrly. If he had got the reaction Dunc feared Flintoff would have got there's no doubt these guys would have kept it hidden.

 

[Pothas]

How many people saw the programme?

Thought it was really good, Fred is so ridiculously likeable that he even made up for Piers Morgan ( who was actually quite interesting) making an appearance. Treso was never mentioned but there is no way a documentary like this would not have been made before his book.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

Depression affects a fair number of people, and given that there are several hundred cricketers at or near Test level at any given time I'd expect there were a few dozen who had at least a mild form of it. Touring for a month is mentally pretty tough, and touring and losing would be up there with the most challenging things anyone would have to face in a professional career.

My previous profession was a psychologist, and I keep an eye out for the symptoms of things like depression in people I watch. I could name about ten current players who I think might have a case of it, but it would be dickheadish to mention them here. It's enough to say that guys like Harmison, Flintoff, Tresco, Lou Vincent etc. have done brave work in raising awareness of the disease, and hopefully have inspired players and non-players alike to get treatment before things get worse.

 

[Prince EWS]

I wondered whether that may have been the case.

Yeah, same. Probably the most visibly obvious case of it on the cricket field (despite what it says about it not transforming), especially when you consider how he sometimes just seemed to lose the plot away from home.

So sad.

 

[Arachnodouche]

My old man lived with it till he died. It is practically impossible for people around a person suffering from depression to relate to or understand what the afflicted is going through. It gets frustrating...very, very frustrating.

 

[Tricia McMillan]

I'd be depressed too if I were English.

 

[marc71178]

How many people saw the programme?

Thought it was really good, Fred is so ridiculously likeable that he even made up for Piers Morgan ( who was actually quite interesting) making an appearance. Treso was never mentioned but there is no way a documentary like this would not have been made before his book.

Not seen it yet but I wonder if Tresco declined to be interviewed, having already said so much about it in the past?

 

[Mike5181]

Iain O'Brien recently came out and conceded he had a problem with depression as well.

Cricketer Iain O'Brien admits depression | Stuff.co.nz

 

[silentstriker]

Is it? I imagine it's more likely that confirmed cases are becoming more prominent rather than the illness itself.

A lot of stigma still attached to stuff like that in other countries. Good to see it's more open in England.

 

[Son Of Coco]

I'd be depressed too if I were English.

Very good point!

Actually, didn't Harmison bowl it to Flintoff at second slip in the first test at the Gabba in 2006? And they both ended up with depression...very interesting.

 

[GIMH]

Some disappointing posts in this thread tbh

 

[Son Of Coco]

There are a couple.

 

[Pothas]

Not seen it yet but I wonder if Tresco declined to be interviewed, having already said so much about it in the past?

I am guessing so yeah and no reason he should say anymore, was good that it did not just focus on cricket in any case.

 

[uvelocity]

Some disappointing posts in this thread tbh

Does seem to be a relationship.

Sometimes I wonder if we are all going soft though? It's normal to get down. Should just harden up, no? But you aren't supposed to say that these days. Dunno. Have a beer.

One thing I'll say from personal experience though, a close family member suffered hard and went on anti-depressants. They are far worse imo than the condition itself. Completely changed person, no good at all.

 

[Prince EWS]

Does seem to be a relationship.

Sometimes I wonder if we are all going soft though? It's normal to get down. Should just harden up, no? But you aren't supposed to say that these days. Dunno. Have a beer.

One thing I'll say from personal experience though, a close family member suffered hard and went on anti-depressants. They are far worse imo than the condition itself. Completely changed person, no good at all.

Yeah; I was on anti-depressants for a bit. Just made me feel emotionally numb, and then paranoid. Didn't agree with me at all.

 

[wpdavid]

How many people saw the programme?

Thought it was really good, Fred is so ridiculously likeable that he even made up for Piers Morgan ( who was actually quite interesting) making an appearance. Treso was never mentioned but there is no way a documentary like this would not have been made before his book.

Yeah, I watched it last night after my previous post.

It's a real shame that Tres wasn't interviewed. The programme rather reinforced my previous post isofar as I don't think Fred was really talking about clinical depression for much of the time.

 

[Himannv]

I've been depressed for short periods of time after all of the following:

- When Sri Lanka got bowled out for its lowest score in ODI's.
- When Mohammed Sami got dropped from the Pakistan side.
- When the Forumers Cricket WC failed to happen.
- When GIMH got banned.
- When Phlegm became a moderator.
- When Smileyshah joined CW.

Depression is a serious issue and happens to everyone as you can see. This should not be scoffed at by all you people.

 

[FBU]

Not really surprised.

Still, it's fairly strange to see that most of the cricketers who came out with depression (Harmison, Flintoff, Thorpe (kinda), Trescothick, Yardy) are English.

Don't forget Hoggard as well suffered from it.

werewolf Cricket and Depression