England footballers Ben Chilwell and Beth Mead have opened up about their mental health struggles as they join a bunch of other football figures in launching the ‘Create the Space’ platform. The platform aims to equip the sport with the tools to understand and address mental health issues. It’s a big deal because mental health affects one in four people in the UK. Alongside Chilwell and Mead, Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema and former Watford and Bolton striker Marvin Sordell are also part of this initiative.
The ‘Create the Space’ movement, developed by Common Goal, wants to use football to tackle mental health not only at the grassroots level but also in professional football. They want to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable expressing themselves both on and off the pitch.
Beth Mead, who plays for the Lionesses, shared her own struggles and said that losing her mum in January was really tough for her. Football was always her escape, but because of an injury, she couldn’t play. It was a dark time for her, even though people thought she was fine because of her outgoing personality. She emphasized the importance of having a support system and wants to normalize mental health.
Ben Chilwell, who plays for Chelsea, also opened up about his mental health journey. He admitted feeling unsure about where to turn for support. He believes that it’s up to his generation to make a change and ensure that everyone in football, from the elite level to young people in community organizations, supports each other. He wants to move beyond just talking about mental health and take action.
Common Goal will be partnering with Football Beyond Borders in the UK to pilot a program that empowers mental health champions. They want to ensure that individuals throughout the football ecosystem are equipped to provide support both on and off the pitch.
Vivianne Miedema, the Arsenal striker, also shared her experiences and the need for more support in her career. She mentioned that in the place where she grew up, it wasn’t acceptable to talk about mental health. Even when she moved to Germany, she was told to train harder when she expressed that she wasn’t feeling good. She wants mental health to be openly addressed and emphasized the importance of self-care.
Molly Bartrip from Tottenham shared her own struggles and mentioned that she was once in a position where she wanted to commit suicide. She wants mental health to be as openly discussed as physical injuries. She believes that vulnerability is a strength and hopes that football can become a safe space for everyone.
The ‘Create the Space’ initiative is not only happening in the UK but also in the US. United States defender Naomi Girma and her teammates from the USWNT and NWSL are leading the movement there. Other international players like Sergio Oliveira from Portugal and Alex Remiro from Spain are also supporting ‘Create the Space’.