Depression: David Cotterill

Depression can affect people of any age or background, and can even be a silent killer. Someone experiencing it may appear happy to people on the outside, but internally they may be experiencing very distressing symptoms. In this episode of DTMTS, Simon Mundie sits down with David Cotterill, the outgoing former Wales international and Premier League footballer. He played more than 400 games during his career, for Birmingham, Swansea, Sheffield United, Doncaster and Wigan, but for much of that time he struggled with depression and did think about killing himself on occasion. David also used alcohol as a way to numb his emotional pain. Since retiring, he has opened up about his mental health issues, which came as a surprise to many of his former team mates, and has been treated for his addiction to booze. David is now committed to helping others who are struggling with their mental health, and has set up a foundation to do exactly that. In this episode, David and Simon discuss the importance of self-care, and some of the possible reasons people develop depression. They also explore why the football industry can be damaging to young players' mental health, and why opening up, being vulnerable and seeking help is crucial. Some of David’s stories from his playing days are shocking, but they do reveal the pain and depth of depression.