Success and failure are a part of everyone’s life and it applies to sportspersons as well. The life of a sportsperson whether a cricketer, shuttler, footballer, hockey player, etc. is quite tough and it is not just about the physical challenges they face, it is also about the mental pressure that they have to cope up with.
It is being said that international players should be mentally strong as they are professionals but things turn ugly if the player is facing failures constantly. There are many players who have gone into depression after facing failures in their professional lives, while some have managed to come out of it, there are few who succumbed to the pressure and gave their lives.
The former England cricketer Graham Thorpe (55 yrs) committed su*cide earlier this month and his family members accepted that he was suffering from mental issues. After this incident, the former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa opened up on his battle with depression in the second episode of his series, “True Learnings” and he titled it as, “Overcoming Depression & Suicidal Thoughts”.
In the video, Robin Uthappa said, “I’ve faced many battles on the cricket field, but none as tough as the one I fought with depression. I’m breaking the silence around mental health because I know I’m not alone. I want to inspire you to prioritise your well-being, seek help, and find hope in the darkness.”
The former Indian cricketer started the video by paying a tribute to Graham Thorpe and former India opener VB Chandrasekhar, who gave his life in August 2019 due to mental problems.
Talking about his own experience, Robin Uthappa said, “I remember in 2011, I was so ashamed of who I became as a human being that I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror. I did avoid any opportunity or even an instance of me looking at myself anywhere. And I know how defeated I felt in those moments. I know how burdensome my existence has become. I know how far I am from being purposeful in life.”
Click here if you wish to watch the video
There are many other athletes who have faced mental issues such as Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, etc. and it is high time that a system is brought into place in order to help the athletes in dealing with their mental problems.
