Former Billericay Town midfielder Charlie Lee experienced many ups and downs during his long career.
But Lee’s hardest moment came during his time in Yeovil Town.
In March 2021, Lee’s Glovers captain Lee Collins tragically committed suicide.
And his death hit Lee and his Yeovil teammates extremely hard.
“It was a surreal moment in my life and it was the same for everyone at the club,” said Lee.
“People just don’t realize the effect they have on other people’s lives and that’s what you have to try and help people.
“People who are struggling don’t see that, but there are always a lot of people who want you to get better.
“It was a very, very difficult moment for all of us and one that I will never forget.
“It’s something that I, the players and everyone at the club learned a lot from, but it was just terrible.”
Lee left Yeovil last summer, but will always continue to encourage those struggling with mental health issues to seek help.
“We have come a long way with mental health, but we still have much more to do,” said the former midfielder.
“It’s also about recognizing how helpful talking to someone is.
“If you have never suffered from mental health problems, which I have not done, it is difficult to put yourself in someone’s shoes.
“But communicating can really help someone who is struggling and I think it’s important to know that.”
Sadly, the statistics around men’s mental health remain alarmingly high and those who struggle can often be reluctant to admit it.
“That’s common in soccer, but also in everyday life,” Lee said.
“We are all programmed so that if we have a physical problem or are injured, we will report it and get help.
“But it has to be exactly the same with your mind and your brain.
“If you are not okay, then it is okay to ask for help.
“There are so many good people out there who can help you now and I hope the game can really get that message across.”
Yeovil took on Southend United on Tuesday night in a ‘Match for Mind’ designed to raise awareness of mental health issues.
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