Book aids PCA awareness programme

By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent

The Professional Cricketers’ Association is sending all 2,300 of its members a best-selling book on depression as part of its on-going education programme to raise awareness of the illness.

Current and former players will each receive a special edition of 'Depressive Illness, Curse of the Strong' by consultant psychiatrist Dr Tim Cantopher which has been edited to be tailored for PCA members.

The book deals with the nature of depression, its history, symptoms and treatments and covers the latest information on medications and the management of depression. It also has a foreword written by former England batsman Marcus Trescothick,  who has talked openly about his battle with depression which brought his international career to an early end.

“I have always admired Marcus Trescothick. I've never seen the ball take less time to reach the boundary than when he is in form,” Cantopher said.

“As stress-induced depressive illness happens to the best people, it is no surprise that he has been a sufferer. His work in helping to produce the Mind Matters tutorials is one of many feathers in Marcus's cap.

“I applaud him for taking his own experience of illness and using it to help others, as I have on many occasions applauded his performances on the field. I wish the project every success. I hope this book helps. If you are suffering from or have suffered from depressive illness, you deserve better. You can have it all: health, success and happiness.”

The PCA hope that the book will help its members understand depression and to identify symptoms in themselves, team-mates, friends and family.

Iain O’Brien, the former New Zealand, Leicestershire and Middlesex seamer, has become the latest player after Trescothick, Mike Yardy, Tim Ambrose and Darren Cousins to admit that he has been treated for depression.

O’Brien admitted that he struggled to cope with the social side of cricket during his career and was diagnosed as suffering from depression after he decided to see his doctor after listening to Michael Vaughan’s radio programme on the subject 18 months ago.

"I've suffered from anxiety and depression, and its consequences, for many years. At times it made my cricketing career extremely hard and also hard for those people around me,” said Derbyshire-based O’Brien.

“I finally plucked up courage to do something about it following BBC 5live's programme on depression in 2010. Seeking this help was the best thing I did. I'm not out of the woods, but I have learnt techniques and with the help of medication to get control and balance back into my life."


Date: 21/01/2013 11:53:03 by Paul Bolton
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