The news of Gary Speed's death at the weekend is one which likely won't be shocking to non-football fans. But as one of those fans, and a Newcastle fan where Gary Speed spent an excellent 5 years or so of his career, it really was a very very sad piece of news to hear.
I remember reading before about depression in sport, and how prevalent it is. Those who don't understand it as the illness it is find it all too easy to write it off pondering how on earth they can be depressed with everything they have. But I do wonder if those in sport are more susceptible due to the 'obsessive' nature that I think you need to make it to the top, and the fact that in any sport the career is likely quite short.
Cycling has its own examples. Tommy Simpson wasn't immune (at least from having read a biography of him it was suggested); and of course Graeme Obree tried to take his own life (and this was no simple 'cry for help', it was a million-to-one shot that he was found before he died).
Is there something in that psyche that makes it more likely to come to the surface? Or is it just that when it happens in sport it's more widely reported?
(I have family members and friends who have suffered and it always astounds me that people seem to think it's just a case of someone needing to cheer himself/herself up)