Chilwell, Mead & other football figures open up on their mental health struggles

England footballers Ben Chilwell and Beth Mead have opened up on their mental health struggles as the pair join a host of football figures in launching the 'Create the Space' platform - to help equip the sport to understand and deal with mental health.

The mental health crisis affects one in four people in the UK and Chilwell and Mead join other football figures, including Arsenal's Vivianne Miedema and former Watford and Bolton striker Marvin Sordell, in launching 'Create the Space'.

The mental health movement, developed by Common Goal, will not only use football as a tool to tackle mental health at a grassroots level, but also enable the elite level of the sport to become a space where everyone feels encouraged and comfortable to express themselves both on and off the pitch.

Speaking about her difficulties, Lionesses forward Mead said: "In January I lost my mum and because of the injury I couldn't play football, which was always my escape, my happy place. Moments when people thought I was fine because of my outgoing personality, were very dark.

"It's been a tough process to understand. Team-mates, people at the club, family and friends that supported me were so important, without them I could have been in a far darker place. I want to help create an environment in which it's totally normal to address mental health.

"There's not a perfect way of dealing with it, but if you feel you're not alone it helps so much. We need to normalise mental health and in doing so that would go a long way."

Meanwhile, Chelsea's Chilwell added: "I have had my own mental health journey and I felt unsure about where to turn to for support.

"It's down to our generation to change this and ensure that throughout football, all the way from the elite