Lennon's brave revelation

Published on Wednesday 10 October 2007 01:17

THE essence of bravery lies in being honest. So congratulations are in order to the former captain of Celtic, Neil Lennon, who has been brave enough to tell others about his fight against depression - an illness that affected him throughout his successful football career.

Clinical depression is a genuine illness. The World Health Organisation predicts that depression will soon become the second biggest illness worldwide. In 2004-5, 321,000 people in Scotland consulted a doctor for depression, and research suggests that as many again - often men - had depression but were too embarrassed to seek medical help because of the stigma of appearing "weak".

The causes of depression are still little understood. There are genetic factors involved, or stress, or chemical shifts in the brain. Often these factors reinforce one-another. But in recent years medical treatment in the shape of behavioural therapy as well as drugs has made it much easier to treat depression, provided people come forward for help.

Yesterday Neil Lennon took part in publicising the launch of a booklet entitled Routes to Recovery, which is designed to encourage more people to seek medical advice on depression. He was full of praise for the Celtic club doctor who once told him to "treat it like an injury". Quite so.