Sensitive Content: Discussions of Suicide, Anorexia, Depression and Anxiety
In the fiercely competitive world of women’s football, where trophies, wins and rivalry take centre stage, there’s a significant but often unnoticed battled being waged behind the scenes – one that concerns mental health. As the spotlight intensifies on the sport and attendance increases, a number of players are stepping forward not just as athletes but as advocates. They are leading a movement that prioritises well-being in a field where resilience and strength are celebrated both on and off the pitch. These athletes are using their influence to shine light on issues such as depression, anxiety and personal pressure, breaking down stigma and encouraging a much-needed dialogue.
Vivianne Miedema’s journey in women’s football is nothing short of remarkable defined by her incredible goal-scoring prowess and a string of record-breaking achievements. Starting at a young age, she quickly caught attention and signed her first professional contract at just 15, too young to sign the contract herself. Her pivotal move to Arsenal in 2017, from Bayern Munich, marked a turning point. Since then, she has shattered records, claiming the title of Women’s Super League all-time goal scorer. Her influence extends beyond club football where her impact for the Netherland national team is equally profound. She holds the record for most goals scored by any player in the Netherlands, male or female and played a crucial role in their triumph at the UEFA Women’s European Championship in 2017 and their run to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final. Despite being known for her clinical finishing and footballing intelligence, she’s more than a record breaker but also a vocal advocate for Mental Health in Women’s Football, sparking an important dialogue in the community.
Vivianne Miedema has spoken candidly about her struggles with panic attacks earlier in her career. In an interview with Daily Mail, she revealed the cultural barriers around discussing mental health, saying:
“where I grew up in the north of Holland it just wasn’t OK to talk about mental health, it just wasn’t done”.
Upon moving to Germany, she encountered a different response.
“When I moved to Germany, I wasn’t feeling so good and needed more time,” she said, “I was told I needed to train harder”.
Winning the UEFA European Championship marked the unfortunate turning point, where her anxiety intensified alongside her rising profile. “It’s mostly anxiety that triggers them for me,” she detailed. Her panic attacks often left her physically and mentally drained for days, sometimes unable to partake in training or even get off the sofa.
Despite managing her mental health better now, Miedema acknowledged the on-going support she relies on, particularly from her former Arsenal teammate and partner, Beth Mead.
“Sometimes I still need to tell Beth, ‘keep chatting to me, because I do feel really stressed’, or ‘I do feel really anxious’,” she detailed to The Athletic, “and that can be a lot of different environments.”
In June, Miedema used her Instagram platform to underscore the significance of mental health awareness, announcing her collaboration with Create the Space alongside her partner Beth Mead and Ben Chilwell. In her post, she emphasised, “just because mental health awareness month is over, doesn’t mean we’re done”. She highlighted the recent launch of Create the Space by Common Goal in the UK, an initiative aimed at addressing mental health issues in football. Create the Space intends to educate individuals, whether affiliated with clubs or not, on supporting those facing mental health challenges. Miedema stressed the importance of freely expressing oneself both on and off the pitch. She advocated for normalising discussions around mental health struggles and improving conditions within the football industry and society at large.
“Make it as accepted and normal as possible to struggle mentally and to open up discussions on how we can make the football industry and society a better and safer place”, she detailed, “keep checking in on your loved ones… find the little things that can help you relax or switch off and get help if needed.”
Tottenham Hotspurs Molly Bartrip is another notable advocate for mental health in women’s football. She began playing European football at a remarkably young age, just 13 years old. Despite achieving success on the field, Bartrip also faced challenges off the field, including anorexia nervosa, depression and anxiety. In an interview with Beyond the Pitch, Bartrip candidly shared the highs and lows of her career, highlighting a particularly difficult period where she contemplated stepping away from the sport. During this time, she was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety, spiralling, she could not see a point of living and at one point, she decided to end it all by driving into the central reservation of the M25. Fortunately, she stopped herself from ending her life. Speaking to The Athletic, she said:
“it took a long time to get back to accepting that I actually wanted to be alive.”
Later signing with Tottenham Hotspur, Bartrip expressed gratitude for the club’s understanding and proactive care when speaking to Beyond the Pitch, stating:
“They protect me for sure, you know, they look after me and they know what my history is… I just know I’m kind of in a safe space there and that’s what I need to be able to play football at my best”.
Reflecting on her journey, Bartrip opened up about her struggles and recovery in a vulnerable piece titled ‘Ana’, published on the Players’ Tribune in 2022. She emphasised that despite progress since the release of that piece, much remains to be done in addressing mental health issues in women’s football. Bartrip is actively involved in the player-led initiative Create the Space, alongside Vivianne Miedema and other notable athletes. Discussing the initiative with Common Goal, she said:
“some years ago I was in a position where I wanted to commit suicide. You feel like a burden, but it’s the strongest thing to ask for help.”
Common Goal collaborates with a diverse array of athletes within the sport. Recently, Leicester City’s Sophie Howard shared insights into her involvement with Common Goal in a conversation with Beyond The Pitch’s Lily Young and Finley Chung. Sophie believes that football is a powerful tool to achieve social change in society and is focused on supporting football-based education activities.
“Here at Leicester, my work with Common Goal links to what I do with the community, I am so proud of the community I have built with Leicester City as a club and as a community.”
Miedema mentioned to The Athletic that upon joining Arsenal in 2017, she was able to openly discuss her mental health with a sport psychologist. Similarly, Molly Bartrip also reflected on her experience with a sports psychologist at Tottenham Hotspur and the effective use of these resources. Sports psychologists play a crucial role in supporting athletes’ wellbeing but given these efforts, the question remains: are these measures sufficient?
Between November 2020 and March 2021, the National Library of Medicine undertook a study examining mental health issues and help-seeking behaviours among elite female footballers in England. A questionnaire was completed by 115 athletes, with 63 participants from the Women’s Super League and 52 from the Women’s Championship. The findings revealed that 36% of the participants exhibited symptoms indicative of eating disorders, while 11% showed moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety and depression each. The study underscores the need for additional research to delve into the subtle experiences of mental health challenges within this demographic. Another alarming statistic showed that over 150 participants in the 2023 Women’s World Cup expressed a deficiency in mental health support, a statistic characterised as concerning by Alex Culvin, head of strategy and research for women’s football at FIFPro, the global players’ union.
In January, BBC Sport’s Emma Sanders and Adam Millington, reached out to all twelve current teams in the Women’s Super League regarding their resources. Four clubs responded. One club features a specialised mental health unit within its medical department, while two clubs employ performance psychologist – one on a part-time bases and the other full-time. All participating clubs have multiple staff members trained in mental health support, with a least one among them being a head coach. Training practices vary; some clubs undergo annual sessions, while other engage in regular workshops covering psychological topics like post-traumatic depression. Furthermore, one club conducts routine mental health screenings and collects wellness data, whereas staff members at other clubs discuss individual player needs at least biweekly.
In the conversation with BBC Sport, Willie Kirk, manager of Leicester City and veteran of the Women’s Super League with Everton and Bristol City, noted significant strides in mental health support in recent years. Kirk acknowledged the mounting pressure on players and emphasised the need for continued growth in support systems. “There is more pressure on the players in terms of the amount of hours we want them [to work], the outside world looking in on them, the media coverage, the commercial pressures”, Kirk remarked. “They’re being pulled from pillar to post”. Meanwhile, Lauren Smith, head coach of Bristol City, highlighted the club’s proactive stance on Mental Health support, irrespective of available resources. “It’s absolutely at the forefront of what we do and have been for years and still will be”, said Smith, who guided the team from the second tier to promotion. “It’s very important”.
While strides are being made in the evolving landscape of women’s football, significant efforts are still required to enhance the support systems for athletes and their mental health. Prominent athletes such as Vivianne Miedema, Sophie Howard, Molly Bartrip, and Beth Mead are actively championing conversations within women’s football, laying a foundation for future generations of players who may encounter similar challenges.
Help is always available. International Help Lines: https://blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines/
Molly Bartrip’s piece ‘Ana’, published on the Players Tribune: https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts/molly-bartrip-tottenham-hotspur-soccer-mental-health
Women’s Super League: Are clubs doing enough to support mental health? – BBC Sport
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35622962/
Tottenham Defender Molly Bartrip Shares Her Struggles With Mental Illness | Scoop News
https://www.common-goal.org/Stories/Create-the-Space-Launches2023-11-02
