Aaron Lennon - Another Advantage Of Being A Footballer

So it's come out that Aaron Lennon has some sort of stress related illness. We don't have much detail but it's clear he won't be playing football anytime soon. However, he has the support of the club, his peers, the PFA and many supporters. He will receive full pay for the duration of his contract and anyone who suggests he should be back playing as soon as possible will be shot down as insensitive and having no understanding of mental illness.

Meanwhile, a bloke on £25,000 pa will be in a capability meeting today where he will be getting the boot because he can't do his job for the same reason - and no one will bat an eyelid.

 

Isn't that more of a problem with the employer of the guy getting the boot, rather than an advantage of being a footballer?

When my own mental illness was at its peak, my employers were fantastic, despite the illness probably costing them a fair bit of money and a **** ton of inconvenience.

And for balance, I also know sufferers who were drove further to the brink by unsupportive employers. Just goes to show that the issue isn't all black n white...

 

I suppose it depends on the employer. If you don't receive sick pay as part of your contract, and as long as they follow the correct process, they can pay you bugger all and have you dismissed in the space of a few months.

Can't see that changing under a T**y government.

 

Didn't someone from the government/DWP recently announce that mental illnesses were not considered the same as physical illnesses when considering claims for benefits?

 

A lot of it is down to luck, if for example Lennon's contract ran out in June then he wouldn't get sick pay for a long period where as a Police Officer for example would get full pay for 6 months.

As others have said it comes down to your employer in many cases

 

Certainly lucky to end up in the Priory where he has a good chance of recovery than on an violent, noisy, NHS ward.

 

Probably one of the few instances where the rest of business could learn a lot from football.

 

Ever considered are position in the samaritons

 

If that's addressed to me then you've missed the point.

 

Seconded


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Absolutely just this.

It beggars belief that when other organs in the body malfunction, there is no stigma attached, no personal criticism of the individual, just an understanding of their condition and wishes of hope that they recover, but when the brain decides to go a little bit haywire then the individual is stigmatized, belittled and often made to feel that it's their own doing. Mental illness is exactly that. An illness.

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Wishing Aaron all the best. Horrible, horrible illness. It's over a year on since I was in that sinking in that dark place and I still feel held back by the remnants of it at times.

 

Someone has already said that these issues are not just black and white.

To say that there is no stigma attached for a physical illness is being too glib too.

Thinking of one footballing example, close to home - what about Ryan Williams and the stick he got on here for an apparent physical non-injury?

Aidy White for being injury prone?

Not been a great deal of understanding there - more like if they get injured then get rid.

 

Fair comments.

I think to be fair about the Ryan Williams injury, much of the "non-belief" was down to the manager at the time.

 

This is not the case. The priory group has mental health hospitals all over the country. I would reckon 99% of their patients are funded by us, the taxpayer, through the nhs. I have transferred patients to priory hospitals from nhs wards and vice verca. Indeed all the private hospital groups (cambian, cygnet etc cater solely for patients funded by the nhs. Their service is no better, i would argue that it is worse. Staff are lower paid in general and the incidence of violence/aggression is significant. I never enjoy visiting these places. There is one small priory clinic in london that attracts the "celebrity", that is all.

 

Aidy White is injury prone unfortunately.

He has my sympathy as he's a decent footballer and no doubts a decent lad but on a footballing sense we cannot afford to carry these players.

 

He'll end up at the celebrity clinic though.