Mental health issues

[skeptic]

Is "mental health issues" the new-age code for "drug issues"?

There is a strong suggestion that at least one player (at another club) who has missed matches because of "mental health issues" actually has a drug problem.
Is this a cloak clubs now employ to hide drug related issues?

In general society 'mental health' and 'drug issues' are often related

Mental health and gambling issues are also often related. It's a problem across our general population as well as within football circles. It's up to our leaders in society/government/business groups to ensure that young people are educated and that we regulate. And I don't mean self regulation either.

On the subject of the public being given information about players, I don't think it's the best option for player's welfare and it is probably breach of privacy as well. Clubs do a pretty good job with management of drug and gambling problems and I think it's in their interest to ensure that players are in a good frame of mind so that they can perform on the field at their best

Education and prevention strategies are the key.

Mental health and drugs are far more related although compulsive gambling can be a problem in a small percentage of cases, in my experience.

In terms of pathology, gambling and drug use (illicit or otherwise) are more closely linked to each other than mental illness.

They absolutely can be a by product of mental illness e.g. ppl with mental illness may be more susceptible or more willing (or even more likely) to turn to these behaviours or the behaviours can be a big trigger towards developing mental illness e.g. a problem gambler can become depressed or a drug user can develop Schizophrenia.

Instances where the person has a mental illness and an addiction to either drugs (including alcohol), or gambling, or both, the risk profile increases exponentially.
Someone with a predisposition to psychosis that heavily uses drugs (ongoingly) will almost always develop Schizophrenia.
Someone that is depressed and prone to more impulsive tendencies, if they begin to gamble, more often than not will lose a lot and they’re amongst the most high risk, people in the community. These are the people that tend to successfully (hate that word in this context) complete suicide the most.
That type of case is however, as you say, less prevalent

[Harves Man]

Well done Scollop for not taking the bait. You and Skeptic are quite right - there is absolutely no point in trying to have an intelligent discussion on any topic with him - he is only here to wind people up. As Eric Berne so rightly pointed out, back in the 60's, we don't HAVE to participate in game playing.