Brave Newcastle United star shared mental health battle over online criticism - wants to break ‘taboo’

Newcastle United star Dan Burn has opened up about his off-the-pitch struggles as part of a World Mental health campaign by the football club. The towering defender from Blyth is a confident and powerful presence on the football pitch for the Magpies but has faced his own battles away from the game like so many others. Ten years ago, a 21-year-old Burn was being sent out on loan spells while on the books at Fulham and was subject to criticism online.

He said: "It's hard when you're in that negative headspace because you don't actually realise that you're in it and you think that some of the things you're worrying about and stressing about don't matter or have an impact, but they do. Now when I look back on times when I was struggling, I can't believe that those thoughts were even going through my head.

"It's such a taboo thing and something that we don't talk about enough. Mental health effects everybody from all walks of life and it's something that needs to be talked about more to be able to help those who maybe don't seek the support they need or want."

Burn's tale came as he visited a Newcastle United Foundation workshop alongside teammate Sean Longstaff to witness the work that the football club's charitable branch does. The duo joined a Q&A session to help break the taboo around mental health.

Burn said: "The work that the Foundation does across all their programmes is so important but to see the work first-hand on supporting mental health is really special. The help, support and togetherness of the group was clear to see and if anybody out there is struggling then I cannot recommend highly enough that people get in touch with the Foundation."

The Foundation has run more than 430 Football Talks workshops since launching in 2020 to help people in the region living with health issues such as stress, anxiety, depression and social isolation.

The North East has the highest rate of adult male suicides in the UK and Football Talks has helped more than 2,000 people speak out and share their struggles.

Longstaff added: "The session was powerful and sad. There was a gent who opened up and talked about suicides in his family and it was hard to hear. For him to have this group of people and support from the Foundation is really important because it's a space where he and others can help each other and support each other. These Football Talks sessions make more difference than anybody can realise or describe."