Can Cricket Damage Your Mental Health?

so many players leave the game because of depression. what's causing the burnout?

Anything damage your mental health if you are taking it too seriously or not spending time on other things as well. Burnout happens when you are working too hard all the time. All work and no play, as they say.

Also, it probably has something to do with being in the limelight. This kind of job can be extremely stressful. Besides performing your job to the best of your ability, there is a reputation to maintain. Make one mistake and everyone sees it. Many artists and actors battle depression, in part probably for the same reasons.

It does seem that more sportsmen and women in every sport are being diagnosed with depression and other mental health issues, but that may just be because people are a lot more aware of the issues and the symptoms of it than ever before.

In the past I think depression was seen as something that you could just cheer yourself up with and get on with it. All too often you world hear people say how can they be depressed when they are doing something they love for a living and getting ell paid for it, and it wasn't taken all that seriously. That as changed in recent years, and while that has meant that more people are being diagnosed with depression, it also means that more people than ever before are getting the treatment they require and that can only be a good thing.

Based on the Trinidadian Comess on Guyana:

I'd say that Mail is a MENTAL case... ::LOL::

This is true, and while there has been a lot of progress made, unfortunately there is still a stigma attached. Many people still do not seek treatment because they aren't even sure what is wrong or they are afraid to. It's great that it is becoming more generally accepted to have depression and to get treatment, but I think there is still much work to be done in our society before that is not seen as a thing to be ashamed of.

Sportsmen and women though, the people that a lot of children and younger people will look up to admitting they have depression and seeking help will only increase that awareness. I'm not saying that they are doing that purposely, as they are more than likely doing it to get themselves right again, but if one of the side effects is that others start to see depression and other mental illnesses something that anybody and everybody can suffer from, that will only help more people start to acknowledge that it's real and eventually that stigma will go.

I think burnout and depression happen when someone does not take the time to ensure that they are taking interest in the other segments of their life. For instance, family, friends, health, finances, community and social engagements. If they only focus on the one aspect and not all the others, then that might lead to the burnout and ultimately, depression.

yes, if you are a west indies fan!  see Chin!

I think the proportion affected is quite small, comparatively speaking.

However you make a good point about having more of a work life balance but there are also those with a predisposition.

Trott was classic with his ritual before each ball was bowled but Trescothick, the first one made public I believe, I was more surprised as his performances were not being compromised.

While I understand that a person needs balance in their life, I'd imagine that a lot of people in sport are only good at that sport because they are quite obsessive about it and it rules their life. You often hear about sportsmen and women who devote their life to their sport but they don't burn out so I think a lot of what happens is down to the actual mentality of the person themselves in the first place.

Some people can mange to be completely obsessed with something all their life and it doesn't take it's toll, whereas others can only live that way a few years before it starts to affect them.