Michael Yardy

[cosmolinguist]

in some ways, I think it takes as much courage to "come out" in this way as it did for a fellow English cricketer, Steven Davies, to come out as gay the other week.

Michael Yardy has been withdrawn from England's World Cup squad as he is suffering from depression.

My heart goes out to anyone who has to leave work due to depression. It's no fun. Above all else, I do hope Michael gets the privacy and the restorative time with famly and friends that he's after.

But apart from that, I am hugely impressed at his bravery. He said "I wanted to be honest about the reason behind that decision [to go home now]" and I"m sure he didn't have to be; another sort of excuse could easily have been found. I'm sure it has been before for other people who didn't want to own up to mental illness.

I'm amused as well because I'm a 'media volunteer' for Time to Change, a campaign by Mind, Rethink and other good mental health advocates aiming to end the stigma surrounding mental health issues. As you can see if you click on the website, it's full of stuff about the importance of talking and being open about mental illness; silence and shame only feed the stigma.

I'm impressed and proud of this guy, though I do wish he didn't have to be going through it at all.

Comments

[bloodbeauty.livejournal.com]

:) that is good to hear, especially that it's not being hushed up and stigmatised.
i do hope he has an easy a recovery as possible though.