Danny Rose will help lessen stigma of depression in football, says Clarke Carlisle

Clarke Carlisle believes Danny Rose speaking openly about his depression will change the way the illness is perceived in football.

Tottenham and England defender Rose revealed he had undergone therapy and taken medication following a long-term knee injury which side-lined him for nine months in 2017.

Carlisle, the former chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association, twice tried to take his own life - once in his early twenties and again in 2014.

“It can help lessen the stigma in football,” Carlisle told Standard Sport. “Across society, it’s lessened. It can be a seminal moment.

“The extent of these incidents is lessening which really heartens me. [Former Germany goalkeeper] Robert Enke and [former Wales manager] Gary Speed took their own lives [in 2009 and 2011 respectively], and we had people like myself who attempted suicide.

“But subsequently we’ve seen Aaron Lennon [of Burnley, a former team-mate of Rose at Spurs], who went to a very dark place but avoided disaster, and now Danny Rose, who was caught in the curve. People’s awareness has risen. Action is happening on a more educated level and that’s making it far more successful.

“My initial reaction was how fantastic that Danny feels he can be so open about it and doesn’t fear any response or reaction, that’s wonderful. That’s how it should be.

“It’s great to have people in the public eye talk about their experiences with mental health.

“A lot of attention is only drawn to crisis or disaster recovery, like my situation. Whereas Danny is articulating a period in life where he noticed a distinct change in his behaviour.

“The more people who understand and acknowledge that intervening at that stage means that someone like Danny can have counselling sessions, go on medication and, like he said, feel really well now.

“It’s a fantastic example of when to address mental health issues.”

Rose was referred to a psychologist and a psychiatrist by Tottenham’s club doctor and Carlisle believes both Spurs and the 27-year-old dealt with the situation in the perfect way.

Carlisle, 37, said mental health issues were ‘definitely’ widespread in football and stressed that action must come from clubs and individuals.

“It’s a combination of both,” he said. “Danny said his doctor referred him to a psychologist and a psychiatrist which is the perfect course of action for them as a football club.

“He’s identified a change of behaviour and the club has accepted it’s beyond their capability and they’ve passed him onto a specialist. That’s perfect.”