Jude Bellingham urged other athletes to open their mental health challenges and talk honestly about their emotional struggles. The aim of the Bellingham message is to support greater vulnerability and reduce the stigma associated with mental health problems in sport. Bellingham stressed that athletes should not hide behind the hard exterior, but instead support the culture of openness that benefits both itself and those around them.
Bellingham shared personal experience with vulnerability and pressure to meet expectations as a professional athlete. He admitted that after the game he would constantly look for his name on the social media. Bellingham said he wanted him to keep the image of “Macho athlete”, led him to avoid discussing his fighting, which he now recognizes as unhealthy. He also dealt with the effect of criticism on social media and the importance of protecting his mental space from online negativity.
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“With the development of social media and technology, there are more ways to attack someone to feel down – and I think there is still a stigma around talking about mental health.”
“I know there were times when I felt vulnerable, doubted myself and needed to talk to someone – and instead I tried to keep this macho athletic image:” I don’t need anyone. “
“The truth is, I do it, everyone does. And you will feel much better when you talk about your feelings and emotions,” Bellingham said.
“Show vulnerability, be a pattern”
Bellingham said athletes should open up and show their vulnerable side to the world because it opens up space for a larger conversation for people who are fighting. England midfielder said he is the duty of athletes like him to be patterns.
“As athletes, we seem to have a world at the feet or hands – we can do whatever we want to make so much money and we will never be influenced.”
“But the reality is, if we can show vulnerability, then opens a larger conversation for people who fight in the dark. It’s a duty of people like me – and the positions we are – to be patterns,” Bellingham said.
“I still think athletes are considered people who should close and take it, which is an old -fashioned view.”
“The hatred can be really heavy for athletes – and I can really empathize with those who fight their mental health. Everyone has their opinion on sport, but there should be limits of terrible things you can say.”
“I’ve never been mentally in a deep hole, but I was around the people who have it, and it’s sad to see.”
– ends
Published on:
October 11, 2025
