Neil Lennon raises concerns over mental health support for managers

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 11:44 · Archive

Neil Lennon questions whether football managers receive adequate mental health support.

Neil Lennon, the 55-year-old Dunfermline manager, has questioned whether football managers are receiving adequate mental health support as they strive to deliver results while facing criticism and the constant threat of dismissal. Speaking on the podcast Unmasked, produced by Glasgow-based psychiatry practice Diverse Diagnostics, Lennon said managers are 'thrown out there' and expose themselves publicly every weekend. 'That's our livelihood, our team is a personification of us,' he explained. 'If they do well, you get a pat on the back. If you don't do well then the abuse, the criticism comes.'

Lennon, an ex-Celtic and Hibernian manager who has previously been candid about battling depression himself, argued that much of the criticism is disproportionate. 'A lot of it is wrong. A lot of it is way over the top now in this day and age. And a lot of it is instant,' he said. The former Northern Ireland international recognised that support available to players has advanced significantly over the past two decades, with clubs increasingly offering counselling and psychological resources. However, he remains unconvinced that managers benefit from the same level of care. 'In terms of looking after manager welfare, there's not a lot up here in Scotland,' Lennon said, while acknowledging that the League Managers Association provides support including counselling and legal advice.

How it is being reported

• ‘The criticism comes’ – Northern Ireland’s Neil Lennon questions level of mental health support for football managersNorthern Ireland-born Neil Lennon has raised concerns about the psychological welfare of modern-day football managers amid the “instant” and “over the top” scrutiny of their role.News Letter · 22 Oct, 11:30
• Neil Lennon raises concerns over mental health support for football managersNeil Lennon has questioned whether football managers are receiving enough mental health support as they strive to deliver results while dealing with criticism, abuse and the ever-present threat of being sackedBelfast Live · 22 Oct, 08:41

In this story: Neil Lennon · Dunfermline · Celtic · Hibernian · Scotland · Northern Ireland · League Managers Association · Diverse Diagnostics

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