The number of current and former footballers with access to intellectual aptitude assistance facilities this year will be in line with 2019 figures, although there has been a significant drop in calls to the national blockade.
The Association of Professional Footballers said 464 members had access to the recommendation provided through Sporting Chance until mid-September this year, compared to 653 throughout 2019.
Michael Bennett, PFA’s social welfare manager, said calls to the referral line were reduced “about 100” in April and May compared to the same time last year, and after talking to Sporting Chance and other aid providers, attributed it to the difficulty of the blockade appearing.
“We spoke to Sporting Chance, who runs our helpline and they said it incredibly quietly,” he told the PA news agency.
“You’d have no idea there’d be more people calling, given all the uncertainty in football at the time.
“I called the Samaritans and Mind and they were on a boat towards us; the phone lines were very quiet.
“Several other people had trouble making phone calls in such a closed environment that they may not be able to speak openly.
“If you’re in an apartment with your spouse or if other members of the family circle live with you, it’s hard for them to make phone calls because they just didn’t have space.
“That’s why the number of other people who use and access the helpline has decreased.
“That’s where the dive took place, yet now we’re making up for it; we’re seeing more and more people come in and it may be the result of having that area now to seek support.
“All of these ‘and if they were going on in people’s minds, yet they couldn’t get in to deal with it. ‘
Of the 464 members who had access to the counseling service until mid-September, 42% were existing players, 55% were former players and 3% of the member to whom they appeared in the case.
Five were female players, AFP said ahead of World Mental Health Day on October 10.
The 2020 figure is already higher than the overall figure for 2018 (438), 2017 (403) and 2016 (160).
Bennett reported in May that just under a quarter of those who responded to a PFA survey in charge of employer closure reported feeling depressed or considered self-harm.
The survey garnered responses from 262 members, of which they belonged to what Bennett described as the “high-risk” group.
If you are affected by intellectual well-being issues or would like to speak, please contact the Samaritans at free helpline 116123 or on the website