Quote: "Once a box-office ­sensation when he was a Great Britain and St Helens idol, his battle against ­depression ­intensified after he quit playing because of injury in 2011 Sporting great Sean Long has revealed to the Sunday People he tried to kill himself in January after a two-and-a-half year battle with depression. Long spoke with searing honesty about how his need for help led him to take ­tablets and attempt to start his car in his closed garage.'" www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-lea ... by-3197278

Quote: "Once a box-office ­sensation when he was a Great Britain and St Helens idol, his battle against ­depression ­intensified after he quit playing because of injury in 2011 Sporting great Sean Long has revealed to the Sunday People he tried to kill himself in January after a two-and-a-half year battle with depression. Long spoke with searing honesty about how his need for help led him to take ­tablets and attempt to start his car in his closed garage.'" www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-lea ... by-3197278

Thankfully getting the help he deserves. Too many people suffer in silence without the full support of family and friends.

Awful. Just awful. We have to avoid another Terry Newton.

Hope Longy gets through this and out the other side.

Wow... I have seen and heard of this so many times you would hope the RL n FA plus other sporting bodies etc would keep in contact with all of their members who retire and or those who are forced to retire thro injury. Anyone who played sports will understand the messive hole not being able to play creates. Best wishes to Longy who is a massive character in the game and just think about those less than high profile players who suffer but don't have the support network.......

“I didn’t know what ­depression was. It’s not something men talk about. I just felt a little bit weird, a little bit different.
A very sad story , not just for Sean but anyone who suffers from depression or is close to people who do . I don't think it gets the media attention it deserves tbh

Playing for [ius[/i will have to carry a Government Health Warning shortly.

I don't know whether to say "That's a disgusting thing for you to say"

or

"Educate yourself on this condition and stop putting 2 and 2 together and make 10"

Mental illness isn't to be taken or discussed lightly. Uneducated comments like this don't help.

People don't understand it because they can't see it.

It doesn't compute with some that just because an arm or a leg isn't missing, or someone isn't wrapped in bandages that they are ill.

I'd say you have to have been involved with people, or suffered yourself to understand it. Majority of people have suffered and how they deal with it is different.

I just pray Sean get's the help and constant support he needs from now on. Its not going to be a quick fix and he can't be wrapped in cotton wool or have his hand held 24/7.

Be strong Sean and now you know the signs of being so low, the journey up again can be a daunting one. Tears and anger at facing some demons you didn't realise were dragging you down are scary at times BUT believe me the light at the end of tunnel is glorious to behold.

Be Strong Sean, you have 3 rays of joy to care for man, focus on them and you will get there .........

Tbh I'd go with the second one as i think Wizeb ment it as tongue in cheek but like you say unless you have come face to face with the effects of depression it's hard to get your head round it . Up to five years ago I didn't have a clue about how serious the condition was and since then I've lost a very close friend to it and still have someone very close to me now who still suffers with it which really made me educate myself with the condition . Good look to anyone who suffers with depression and may you come through the other side

Not hard to see it was a tongue in cheek comment. Trying to paint yourself as the white knight is more disgusting. From the Sean long point , have you been there personally?. I bet not. It's easy to say this and that without being in that position. It's harder to admit the problem than solve it.

That makes very sad reading. Hope he recovers fully. Are more players struggling with depression these days or are we just being made more aware of it?

You don't have to worry about me in the [ilife[/i education stakes young man.
You won't be catching me up anytime soon.
My arithmetic is probably superior to yours also!

This may perhaps explain Longs job hopping over the last 12 months. Something which many on here were condemning him for prior to this news breaking.

Goes to show, that not having all the facts makes for ill advised comments on here sometimes. I hope those who questioned Longs ethics on another thread are equally as quick to retract those comments.

Best of luck to him. Get well soon Sean.

Been there and used the t shirt to polish the car. My family and a sense of humour got me through but it stays with you, and that's where the sense of humour is crucial. FWIW, I thought Wizeb's comment was funny.