Henry opens up about mental health in football after Beka Beka incident

France's Thierry Henry spoke openly about mental health in football citing the situation with Alexis Beka Beka

Transcript

00:00 I really like this question.

00:02 Because it's something that is really important.

00:04 We're talking about young players, of course.

00:06 But I think we're all in the same room, we all have our problems.

00:10 We're here, you do your job, I do my job, everyone thinks it's okay, no matter the level of society.

00:16 We all have problems.

00:18 Problems that you sometimes have trouble dealing with, that you sometimes hide.

00:23 You show a little bit of confidence, when it's not really the case, you're not really sure.

00:29 And from time to time, as I often say, the brain has enormous power over the human being.

00:36 It's what controls us.

00:38 So it's not easy.

00:40 Of course, we're talking about young players, but at all levels.

00:44 Whether it's in sport or in life.

00:46 It's true that now it's no longer too taboo to say that I'm afraid.

00:49 It's no longer too taboo to say that I'm not good, I think I shouldn't play.

00:54 Because mentally I'm not good, I need a little break to be able to.

00:58 It's true that before, at another time, if you say to someone, "I'm afraid", it doesn't go very well.

01:03 The message doesn't go very well.

01:05 And then how it's conveyed.

01:07 At some point, if you also show vulnerability, if in front of you, we don't show you empathy,

01:13 you shut up, you don't talk about it, you don't know where to go, you're ashamed.

01:19 It's not a shame, but the first reflex you have is that you're ashamed.

01:23 It's like when you cry.

01:24 I often say, the first thing we say is, "Excuse me."

01:27 It's an emotion, why are you apologizing if you're crying?

01:30 You're going to hide it or you're apologizing or you're ashamed.

01:34 It's not shameful at all.