For Laura Holden, her time at Aberdeen was a cautionary tale of what can happen when mental health support is lacking in women's football. The midfielder, who ruptured her ACL just six matches into her first season with the club, says she struggled to get the support she needed during her recovery.
Holden feels that the club neglected her as a player and failed to provide adequate care for her physical and mental well-being during her rehab. She was repeatedly told by the physio that she had completed her rehabilitation program, without being given any weekly check-ins or targets to meet. This made her feel like a burden to the team.
The situation escalated when Holden returned to training, only to be denied further opportunities due to perceived excuses from the physio. The tension came to a head in a heated argument on the pitch, which has left Holden feeling anxious and unsure about returning to football.
Despite this, Holden's experience has become an impetus for her to speak out about the importance of mental health support in women's football. She fears that other players may be going through similar experiences and hopes that by sharing her story, she can raise awareness about the need for better care.
Holden's situation is a stark reminder of how quickly the balance between physical and mental well-being can become skewed. As someone who has experienced firsthand the devastating consequences of neglecting one's own needs, Holden is now determined to make sure that no other player suffers in silence.
The club's response to her allegations remains unclear, with Aberdeen refusing to comment on her claims. However, for Holden, speaking out about what happened at Aberdeen has been a crucial step towards healing and ensuring that she doesn't repeat the same mistakes in the future.
Holden feels that the club neglected her as a player and failed to provide adequate care for her physical and mental well-being during her rehab. She was repeatedly told by the physio that she had completed her rehabilitation program, without being given any weekly check-ins or targets to meet. This made her feel like a burden to the team.
The situation escalated when Holden returned to training, only to be denied further opportunities due to perceived excuses from the physio. The tension came to a head in a heated argument on the pitch, which has left Holden feeling anxious and unsure about returning to football.
Despite this, Holden's experience has become an impetus for her to speak out about the importance of mental health support in women's football. She fears that other players may be going through similar experiences and hopes that by sharing her story, she can raise awareness about the need for better care.
Holden's situation is a stark reminder of how quickly the balance between physical and mental well-being can become skewed. As someone who has experienced firsthand the devastating consequences of neglecting one's own needs, Holden is now determined to make sure that no other player suffers in silence.
The club's response to her allegations remains unclear, with Aberdeen refusing to comment on her claims. However, for Holden, speaking out about what happened at Aberdeen has been a crucial step towards healing and ensuring that she doesn't repeat the same mistakes in the future.