'Recovery is possible' Lancashire football legend backs campaign to kick mental health stigma
Preston-born footballer Clarke Carlisle has backed a new NHS campaign challenging the stigma surrounding mental health, urging people to seek support and “take action to be well”.
Lancashire football legend Clarke Carlisle has joined a new campaign aimed at breaking down stigma around mental health and encouraging people to seek support.
The former Preston North End player, who was born in Preston and went to Balshaw’s High School in Leyland, is supporting Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust’s (LSCFT) Mental Health Awareness Week campaign, The label isn’t my story.
The social media initiative shares seven personal stories from people living with mental health conditions, focusing on recovery, hope and the person behind the diagnosis.
Research carried out by the trust found that almost two thirds of people still feel uncomfortable talking about mental health with respondents calling for greater awareness around issues including men’s mental health, addiction, psychosis and neurodiversity.
Carlisle, who has previously spoken publicly about his struggles with depression and gambling addiction, said the campaign was about changing the narrative around mental health.
He said: “It’s OK to not be OK was a wonderful campaign. It raised awareness, but it has also entrenched the ‘not being okay’ as the end game.
“That’s not the end game. It’s acknowledging that this position is okay and from here I can go and not only get the support that I need, but take action to be well.”
The former defender added that while he still lives with recurrent complex depressive disorder, he no longer feels controlled by it.
“My adverse mental health isn’t in control of me,” he said. “If I was to feel unwell again, we now have the sat nav back to wellness. There’s no fear and I would encourage everyone to reach out to services when they feel that they’re in need.”
Dr Gareth Thomas, chief medical officer at LSCFT, said the campaign aimed to show that “recovery is possible” and encourage more open conversations around mental health.
Carlisle awarded the title of "Britain's Brainiest Footballer" in a TV game show in 2002.