By Elliott West
“For those that have gone through it, or are going through it, can relate to this.”
Mark Selby
Introduction
The recent Masters was highly successful but sadly it did highlight a topic that is very close to my heart, mental illness. I lost my mother, Marion in 2002, aged 54 to bowel and liver cancer. However, throughout her life, she suffered from Manic Depression or what we call today, Bi-Polar Disorder. An illness that causes you to have ultimate highs and lows, producing periods of irrational behaviour and to go on spending sprees. I sadly had to section my mother on numerous occasions and by the end of her life, she was taking a large number of tablets a day to control her condition. Sadly she stopped taking the tablets and was found collapsed on the floor of her bedroom by a neighbour. The neighbour had to break into the bedroom via a ladder. It is thought my Mum had been there for several days and she later passed away in hospital several weeks later.
Mental Health
In an odd turn of events, Mark Selby was heavily defeated by Barry Hawkins 6-1 in the quarter-finals of this year’s Masters. After the match Mark apologised on social media, saying that he had suffered “a relapse” with his mental health, adding that he “felt that he didn’t need to hide behind a mask anymore”. It is unclear what has triggered this bout of what seems like depression. It is evident that snooker does put a considerable strain on you mentally as you have to battle the high and lows of victories and defeats.
The issue of mental health is nothing new in snooker with a large number of players who have suffered various degrees of mental anguish over the years. These date as far back as Alex Higgins who was prone to irrational behaviour, Bill Werbeniuk who virtually became a recluse after his retirement and current players such as Martin Gould, Graeme Dott and Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Thankfully the stigma of mental illness has reduced in the last thirty years and none has to experience what I did when I saw my mother in a mental institution, highly medicated and sitting in a chair, not even being able to recognise who I was when I visited her. Thankfully cases such as Mark Selby, have highlighted that mental illness in any form shouldn’t be a stigma and it is alright to speak out about your own condition. Talking has always been the best policy because to suffer in silence only creates toxicity and fuels the illness.
Snooker has improved in recent years with helping to manage these situations with Martin Gould actually approaching the dedicated professionals that as employed in the game. A major difficulty for any snooker player, is the long periods of solitude away from your friends, family and loved ones, constantly on the road and living out of hotel rooms and suitcases. For some, this creates negativity to be magnified and a personal struggle ensues. Some speak out but others cover their mental turmoil behind a media plated mask, treading a thin line between sanity and a mental episode.
“We are always sorry to hear if any of our players are going through difficult times”.
“Support is there for Mark and any other playing member on the WST.”
Jason Ferguson, Chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA).
No one, in reality, is immune to detrimental mental health. We are all capable of entering this world of anguish but it is so important to seek help when you start to struggle with day to day life. Mental illness is such a powerful force and can literally suck the life out of you, causing you to be withdrawn, irrational and in some cases suicidal. No one should have to get to that stage and certainly not contemplate taking their own life. Medical advancements in recent years have been miraculous and with the right medication, many people can lead a normal and healthy life with the right dosage.
The Future is Bright
Sport is a powerful medium and snooker is no exception. It treats its players as an extended family and is there for them at their highest and lowest moments. When a mental episode occurs, it is crucial to seek help and to take a period of time away from the situation. There is no harm in admitting you have a problem whether it be privately or for some, through the media’s mouthpiece. How you do it is, is irrelevant but doing it is crucial. By speaking out, you not only highlight the issue to others but potentially speed you your own recovery process. Sportspersons are role models and in turn spread positive messaging, potentially helping many of their own fan bases by speaking out. Never feel alone, always turn to others to help on this sometimes short or in some case long road to recovery.
