It's been a little over 14 years since Robert Enke took his own life.
My ears were always open to stories about players' mental health issues
and I've heard about them a lot recently, I've heard about Dele, about
Víctor Camarasa, about Alexis Beka Beka, and more recently about Lyle
Foster... Reading them made me feel a lot has changed since then as
mental issues became something that the club & fans sincerely worry
and care about, rather than the taboo that it was considered as more
than a decade ago.
The truth is we can't always save everyone. But I believe we could make
anyone's lives just a little bit more bearable with a bit of help. By
listening to them and taking their illnesses seriously, by regularly
checking in if they're feeling ok, by showing kindness. The uglier sides
of mental illness is still stigmatised and it isn't something you can't
truly understand, it takes huge courage to walk alongside them through
their darkest paths and that really is the professionals' work. But to
be an assurance for someone that there is always help one can seek out
could be huge for them.
Despite everything happening, I want to keep believing that things could
get better and are getting better by the help and sacrifices of people
who haven't lost hope. We came so far, but we still have a lot to go. We
can only do this together because we are not alone, you are not alone.
I wish the world you lived was a bit more kinder for people like you. I'll keep trying to make it so.
Rest in peace, Robert Enke.
13.11.2023
#ingedENKEn