Depression Hits Many – Even Some of Our Beloved Boxers! A Closer Look…
By Donald “Braveheart” Stewart
Today, the 5th September 2016, I attended the launch of the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival in Glasgow. As well as writing columns in boxing, like Mr Berkwitt, I have a career in the arts. Today it brought me into an arena where some very brave souls took that bravery and put it on public display. For the month of October, all over Scotland, the general public have been invited to come and look and learn too.
For the sweet science the issue of mental health has become important because of the bravery of one heavyweight boxer, Dave Allen 9-1-1, 6 KO’s. In the last week he has come out to say that his boxing career is being put on hold as he battles with the twin demons of depression and anxiety, mixed with a heady cocktail of gambling.
It’s a tremendously brave move from a guy who was recently in the ring with the emerging heavyweight contender, Dillian Whyte 18-1-1, 14 KO’s. Whyte fought a grudge match with Anthony Joshua 17-0, 17 KO’s, prior to Joshua winning his world title. Whyte had been the guy in the amateurs who beat Joshua and the hype built this up to be a massive revenge mission. Whyte lost but managed to secure enough admirers that he is now a serious domestic prospect. Allen had campaigned for a shot at Whyte and he was undefeated going into the match. Many thought Allen was over reaching, some thought he had a genuine chance of winning and getting into the mix himself.
It ended up being a one-sided affair and Allen came out with less kudos than when he went into it. He claims now this may have been down to his depressive state of mind but no matter why he didn’t perform, that fight and battle is over; a more important and harder battle has begun.
Due to an increasing number of sports people who have come out and spoken of their battles with mental ill health we have become aware of how big an issue it has become. Apparently at any one time, 1 in 6 people are suffering from mental ill health in the United Kingdom so we should not be shocked to hear that there are a few boxing people who are suffering. As the figure jumps to 1 in 4 of the population who, at some point in their lives, has a period of mental ill health, this is a problem of seismic proportions.
Allen’s coming out publicly follows one of the biggest and most upsetting events in British boxing in September 2013 when Dean Powell, one of the most respected figures in British boxing, threw himself in front of a train and died from his injuries. Powell had fought his own massive and very private battle with depression over many years but at the tender age of just 47, lost it.
Our own and much loved Frank Bruno found himself incarcerated in a mental hospital after a period of less than lucid behavior. This was a man who was an icon, a hero and transcended boxing into the entertainment industry. Many of our sporting heroes in the UK find the period after their sporting career comes to an end difficult and plenty of theorists believe this is one of the factors that leads to sporting people ending up being depressed.
The most wonderful aspect of Allen’s admission is that he has mentioned it BEFORE a tragedy. The British press have been sympathetic and we do not have a flurry of people throwing brickbats and nonsense at the guy. There shall be a few idiots who may display the symptoms of mental ill health but be surprisingly non clinically proven who may think it funny to gloat or make fun of it all. Let them. Allen may not be feeling tip top but his jab is more than tip top…
And so we have the opportunity to laud the guy on his return but be aware he shall be back and still has depression as part of his makeup. We can show people how to engage with mentally ill people as well as welcome back into the fold those whose absence may be temporary. Let us be judged well and let him be welcomed heartily – let his example be spread and people encouraged to seek help. This week I shall also be looking at another story that sees my two loves – sport and the theatre – collide as I hear of a brand new play – Lynched – looking at the life of one Benny Lynch. Who he, you ask? Possibly Scotland’s greatest… Well … let me enlighten you… In my next week’s column…
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