How like footballers are we?

Football’s Suicide Secret is a programme shown a few days ago by the BBC. It was extremely well presented by footballer Clarke Carlisle, and I was impressed by how balanced it was. But it also got me thinking. How like footballers are we?

Here are some of the main points that come out in the documentary:

• Footballers get depressed and suicidal – they’re not immune
• Having fame and fortune doesn’t mean you can’t be suicidal – but other people may think you shouldn’t be
• Depression and suicide carry a huge stigma within football, so sufferers usually don’t talk about it – this is especially true if a player has a high profile
• The leadership at the top haven’t made much effort to address the issue (there’s a shocking section with the chairman of The Football Association who, even though he knew the subject he would be interviewed on, hadn’t made the effort to find out about the FA’s own scheme – he knew it existed but nothing at all about it)

So how different are Christians and churches?

• Christians get depressed and suicidal – we are not immune
• Knowing that we are in Christ with all the blessings that come from that both now and in the future doesn’t mean we can’t be suicidal – but other people may think we shouldn’t be
• Depression and suicide carry a huge stigma within the Christian world, so sufferers usually don’t talk about it – this is especially true if they have a high profile as a minister, Christian worker, conference speaker etc
• The leadership at the top vary in how much effort (if any) they make to address the issue (some individuals and groups have been wonderful; others have pretty much left members of the congregation to sink or swim)

But of course there’s one way in which footballers and Christians are very different (unless of course he/she is a Christian). A common trigger for depression and suicide is when a sportsman has to stop: major injury, retirement, being “let go”. That’s when everything changes. They no longer have the joy of playing, the thrill of winning, the camaraderie of a team around them – and many have no Plan B. The future is empty.

For a believer it is entirely different:

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8 v 38-39)

It's not uncommon for Christians in full-time ministry to suffer from depression and even suicidal thoughts. And yes, like a footballer, the idea of stopping, of leaving ministry, can be scary. But unlike the sportsman, the future for those in Christ isn’t empty. We know that God is at work in our lives, graciously making us more like His Son; and that one day we will be with Him in the new creation, where there will be no more crying, or pain, or depression, or suicide…

If you’re a Christian brother and sister who struggles with suicidal thoughts, please don’t fight this alone. I know it’s scary. But the vast majority of people are kind and understanding and loving, and will gently point you back to the Lord’s goodness and love. And if you happen to meet someone who isn’t like that, please try again.

And if you are a church leader, and you have never mentioned these issues from the front, then please think about doing so. A friend of mine now includes mental-health issues when leading prayers at church. Every time he does, someone comes up to thank him as it creates an atmosphere at church where people feel a little more free to talk about their own pain and struggles.