Divine Days Community CIC

This past 7 days, there was a high-profile withdrawal from the England women’s Euro 2025 squad. Millie Bright’s withdrawal emphasises the need for increased awareness and dialogue around mental health in sports. Athletes are often targets for abuse, for anything that is out of the ordinary, for example, still no active English male footballer has ever come out as gay whilst playing professional football as a career. The pressure of players to perform at an elite level doesn’t allow them the luxury of taking a break, or talking about their feelings, as this often is misconstrued as ‘weakness’.

In reality, speaking up actually shows signs of strength, to be able to talk openly about things you are struggling with enables a person to be better for it in the long-term. Similarly in a regular workplace, if you don’t know an answer, asking for help is always better than trying to fix it on your own. Changing working cultures in elite sport can include things like implementing support systems, such as mental health professionals within sports organisations, and encouraging open conversations about the pressures athletes face. Elite athletes are often distinguished from everyday athletes from their mental capacity to perform under pressure, but when something is not right, then emphasising their need for a break should be prioritised.

Putting this into our own lives, when things are going badly, do we become insular and try and battle through, or do we reach out for support, whether from friends, or professionally? The latter takes courage and is really hard to make that first step, but ultimately talking to those with experience will enable you to manage your own mental health better in the long run,

If you broke your leg, you’d go to the hospital, if you struggle with mental health, why not reach out?

Some tips for improving your mental health:

1. Scheduled breaktime. Whether you have a family, or full-time job or both. Whether you cannot leave the house or are isolated in your family environment. Schedule 20 minutes every day for you, as downtime is essential. Having that break, gives you brain and body time to recover and ensure better performance.
2. Relaxation Techniques. Practices such as meditation, yoga, or simple breathing exercises can help manage stress and improve focus. is a quandary, although it can help in the short-term, it, in my opinion doesn’t give solutions to get well, just a snap out of the turmoil for a very short time period. I think mindfulness is great when you’re in crisis, to stop that spiral and give you a few minutes to look elsewhere and not be fully consumed.
3. Communication. Creating a culture where you can express concerns about mental health without fear often facilitates better support systems.
4. Professional Help. Engaging with local groups like Man-Archy or mental health professionals can provide individuals the support network to enable them to cope and receive tips and advice tailored to their individual needs at the time.