Therapy worked for me, says Newcastle defender Burn

Figure caption,

Newcastle's Burn on mental health and asking for support

Newcastle United and England defender Dan Burn said therapy worked "quite well" for him as he urged those struggling with their mental health to seek help.

Burn was speaking at the launch of the 'One of Our Own', external initiative by the club and Newcastle City Council to mark Mental Health Awareness Week this week.

Eleven specially commissioned public benches featuring thought-provoking questions have been positioned around Newcastle, in an effort to get people talking openly about their mental health.

QR codes on the benches direct users to a network of support, including 24/7 helplines such as Samaritans.

"I want to help my kids and the younger lads coming through because I know that I've had that experience," Burn told BBC Look North (North East and Cumbria).

"There are things that are going to happen in their careers they have never had the experience of, so I've just tried to pass on little bits of wisdom.

"I'm always trying to say there's ways you can deal with mental health. Therapy worked quite well for me.

"That doesn't mean it works for everyone, but things like this, the walking football - there's always something you can do to help each other and help yourself."

Burn said he is "very proud" of his journey, having been released by Newcastle as a youngster and let go by Fulham in 2016.

He earned his first England call-up last year and is hoping to be named in the squad for this summer's World Cup.

"I'm desperate to be there," he said. "It's not as if it's going to come around again.

"I'm 34, so I'd be very surprised if I was in the running for the next World Cup.

"Hopefully I've done enough. We will find out in a couple of weeks."

Countries must submit their World Cup squads by 31 May.

The tournament, co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, runs from 11 June to 19 July.