Snooker star Mark Allen vows to help others after mental health struggles

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 25 Oct, 11:02 · Archive

Northern Irish snooker player Mark Allen, 40, has pledged to do more for men's mental health support after receiving an outpouring of support following his own admission of mental health difficulties.

Mark Allen, the Northern Irish snooker player, has said he is 'completely overwhelmed' by messages of support after opening up about his mental health struggles. The 40-year-old revealed this week that he was considering retiring from professional snooker following a first-round defeat at the Northern Ireland Open. He had not played competitively since April's World Championship.

Allen disclosed that he spent ten weeks receiving treatment at a mental health clinic before returning to play in Belfast. He said he felt he owed it to his family, particularly his daughter, to play 'for what could be the last time', and to the fans who had supported him throughout his 21 years on the professional tour. He also praised World Snooker, citing particular support from Simon Brownell and Neil Tomkins, who remained in regular contact and visited him in the clinic.

In his statement, Allen said: 'I'm not ok, but I'm ok in that itself. I've been much worse in the last few months than you saw yesterday. I literally didn't see a future in anything.' He credited his daughter, therapists, staff and fellow patients with helping him through 'some really dark days'. He added: 'I see the light now that I couldn't see before but I do now. I also know it won't happen overnight. I'm a work in progress.'

Allen has since said he will do more to support men's mental health in Northern Ireland, following the positive response to his public disclosure.

How it is being reported

• Mark Allen overwhelmed by support after mental health admission as he targets big eventThe Northern Irish snooker star revealed this week that he was considering retiring from the sport following a first-round defeat at the Northern Ireland OpenBelfast Live · 25 Oct, 10:46
• Mark Allen vows to do more for men's mental health in Northern Ireland after ‘overwhelming’ response to his own strugglesBelfast Telegraph · 25 Oct, 09:48

In this story: Mark Allen · Northern Ireland · World Snooker · Simon Brownell · Neil Tomkins

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem