Don't hide the blues

The death of Gary Speed, assumed by most to be from suicide (though the cause will not be known until the inquest in January), has at least prompted numerous articles and debates on depression. Many focus on the problem of depression in sport and question whether it is a greater problem there than anywhere else or whether sportsmen and women get enough support for their problems.

Suddenly former players such as Stan Collymore and Paul Gascoigne are talking about their own experiences, and the Professional Footballers' Association has sent out a booklet to its members and ex-players containing advice, helpline numbers and case studies on depression. I am sure that other players will be coming forward to seek professional help.

Mental health is not discussed enough, and certainly has plenty of stigma and taboo attached to it, so this response to Speed's death is encouraging. Speaking out about depression will help to break down the silence.

While it is easy to see how players of top-level sport may suffer huge levels of stress due to the pressures they work under, and how they may feel the need to hide any problems for the sake of their careers, it is important to acknowledge that anyone can suffer from mental health problems at any time.

They are surprisingly common; one in four British adults experiences at least one diagnosable mental health problem in any one year, and about six per cent of adults have an episode of depression specifically each year. More than 15 per cent of the population will experience an episode of depression during their lifetime. I suspect the actual number of depressed people is far higher, as many are reluctant to discuss it with their doctors and so go undiagnosed and untreated.

Tragically, around 6,000 people in the UK take their own lives each year, and three-quarters of these suicides are male. Men are particularly bad at seeking help, probably because of the male tendency to overvalue independence and self-control. Three people in my life have committed suicide. All were male and they all kept their problems completely hidden from family and friends.

Psychiatrists are warning that the number of men with depression may increase during the economic crisis but most will go unnoticed. Depression isn't just about low mood; other symptoms include poor sleep, weight loss, anger and frustration, loss of interest in work, hobbies and sex - it can even lead to alcohol or drug abuse.

GPs must be aware of these and look out for them in their male patients but friends and family can help too. The more these topics are written about and discussed the less mental illness will seem like a weakness or a failure in men and fewer will suffer in silence. The consequences of undiagnosed depression can be devastating.

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