In the summer of 2019, Kieran Tierney sealed his record-breaking transfer from Celtic to Arsenal, departing his boyhood club.
The move was bound to happen; his quality was there for everyone to see. He was simply too good to play in the SPFL week-in, week-out.
At Arenal, the defender has revealed his initial struggles. It wasn’t the best start for the young player, admitting he missed home while struggling with an injury that kept him out for the best part of his first season with the Gunners.
Kieran has spoken about how that affected his mental health. As quoted by Football Scotland, he opened up, saying;
“It was hard to start with, I was really struggling. Really low point. Homesickness was terrible to start with.
“Outside training you had a lot of time to think. I’m not saying I was ever in a bad, bad place where I was suicidal.
“But my friends have been. Two or three of them have committed suicide, lost their life. You’re with these people and you don’t know a thing. They’ve not spoke.
“So I think I feel a certain responsibility to try and help as much as I can because I kind of know how it feels to be in a certain place.”
Tierney seems to be in a better head space now, thriving for club and country. Speaking out about the mental health challenges he’s faced takes great courage; he should feel proud of himself for doing so.
Hopefully, Kieran speaking out will help others follow suit and start to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health.
There was an uptake in men coming forward and speaking about their mental health after UFC fighter Paddy ‘the baddy’ urged men to talk in the aftermath of his friend taking his life.
Suicide among young men is horrendously high. Breaking stigmas is a must.
If you’re having a bad day, week, month, tell somebody.
