Ex-Sunderland and Hartlepool United defender opens up about mental health
Ex-Sunderland and Hartlepool United defender Darren Williams has opened up about mental health and some of his own struggles after hanging up his boots.
Williams has also urged others to seek help and not bottle things up after sharing his own experiences following retirement.
He spent eight years on Wearside and two at Hartlepool during a successful 20-year career.
Williams told the Football Matters podcast: "I was fortunate I got a bit of help from the PFA. I had a guy who travelled up from London to meet up with me and he put me in contact with a few people.
"I think the biggest thing for me was I was coming out of football, and I was going through a divorce. I was on my own for a bit because the kids were not here.
"Your head goes and you're in a world of your own. You don't catch on when you're on the outside, I was still going to my mates and still going to have a pint with them.
“You don't show it - you laugh and you joke, and you come home and you're a completely different person.
“You've got to get out there and put it out there. It's not a sympathy cry, but you've got to take it seriously.
"I would say to anyone, reach out to someone. Whoever it is, it doesn't matter. I talk to people on social media privately because you've seen something they've put on, or maybe they've messaged you.
"You try and talk to them and if it helps one person, fantastic."