"He is struggling": Erin McClean speaks out about husband James' controversial mental health views
ERIN McClean has spoken out about her husband James' controversial comments regarding men's mental health following a social media backlash, claiming the ex-Ireland international has been 'struggling' during what has become 'a daily battle' this year.
The 37-year-old exiled Derry City FC winger said in an interview with the Sunday Independent promoting his autobiography 'The Walls', that he had never tried therapy because "as a man I would see that as a weakness"—comments which caused deep offence online.
McClean's views on speaking to a psychologist prompted a response from the Men's Action Network (MAN) charity, which said it would welcome the opportunity to meet with him and discuss the importance of men seeking support when needed.
Derry City Football Club distanced itself from the player's comments stating: "The club wishes to make clear that these views do not reflect our core values or beliefs. The club places the highest priority on the mental health and wellbeing of our players, staff and the wider Derry City community." The statement went on to say the club has accepted an invitation to meet with the MAN charity "to discuss these issues.”
The angry reaction to James' comments prompted his wife Erin to share her views on the issue on social media during Derry City's 1-0 win over St Patrick's Athletic at Brandywell on Monday night where the home fans in the North Stand unfurled a banner with the words 'It's not weak to speak'.
She disagrees with her husband's views on mental health and claims she has been 'strongly encouraging' him to 'seek therapy to deal with issues from his early life as well as to face the end of his career.'
The mother-of-four also feels James hasn't been given the support he needs during a difficult time in his life.
"As somebody who loves James, I want to respond to some of the comments around his interview with the 'Sunday Independent' about the issue with mental health," she began.
"James made his comments in the context of admitting that I have been strongly encouraging him to seek therapy, to deal with issues from his early life as well as to face the end of his career. I do not agree with James' opinion on the subject of therapy and mental health.
"In the book I talk about my worries about how James will cope with life after football. I am proud that in the process of working on the book he has opened himself up to difficult conversations and has allowed people to see some of his vulnerabilities.
"He is struggling at the moment and has been for some time. He may not agree with me sharing that but I've told him that I need to explain this. I'm working on getting him to a place where he recognises that speaking about this is not a sign of weakness. When James is suffering from stress or anxiety about a situation his instinct is to lash out.
"It has been a daily battle in a year where I feel he hasn't been given the support that he requires when he is clearly struggling.
"I know James to be very supportive to personal friends of ours when they have gone through difficult times. While he continues to push back at the idea of therapy for himself that does not mean he does not care about other people's struggles or the importance of seeking help."