Huntly’s new manager Allan Hale says he is in a good place, having battled depression over the last couple of years.
The former Fraserburgh player and Keith manager is looking forward to the challenge following a difficult couple of years.
Speaking about his experiences, the 32-year-old said: “I think it’s very important to find a balance between work, family and football.
“I’ve been involved in football for many years and it’s something that I think I’ll always want to be part of.
“It’s certainly a good release when it comes to helping with things like depression.
“I’ve had therapy for the best part of two years and taken medication, but I’m in the best state I’ve been in for a while.
“If that wasn’t the case then I wouldn’t have been looking to get back into management.
“All things considered with how well I’ve recovered and how I’m dealing with it – because it’s something that doesn’t ever go away – I’m very positive and looking forward to meeting everyone and getting started at Huntly.”
Hale, who has also had two spells as manager of junior club Maud and joins Huntly following a stint as player-assistant manager at Fraserburgh United, believes for anyone suffering from mental illness, speaking about it is the first step towards making a positive recovery.
He added: “Speaking about it was a big step for me at the time. It was something I kept to myself for too long if I’m honest.
“I let it spiral into a pretty dark place and it’s not a place I ever want to be in again.
“I couldn’t get out of my bed, I couldn’t go into work, I wasn’t speaking to people including my own family.
“Going back two-and-a-half years ago it was a very difficult time. I’m very fortunate that I’ve had a lot of support from my employer, my family and friends, who are all still supportive to this day. With their help and the therapists, the medication and my GP, I’ve managed to get myself back into a really healthy state of mind.
“I’m not afraid to talk about it and it’s something that I feel is common now and probably more so with the coronavirus pandemic and how people have been talking about it.
“I know I’ll certainly be there for anyone who feels like they need to open up or feel like they’re going through something similar.
“Having that support network for me was very needed at that time.”
Hale is also worried about the effect Covid-19 may have on mental health. The majority of the population has been stuck at home for a prolonged period with many furloughed or losing their jobs completely.
He said: “With Covid-19 there’s so much uncertainty about when we will have normality again.
“There will be a new normal that people will need to adapt to. There’s been problems for people with a lack of interaction and people not being able to see for family or friends for a long period.
“There’s uncertainty for people around furlough and whether they might get paid off and whether businesses will reopen.
“It’s a really uncertain time, but I’d encourage anyone who is struggling to reach out to people and talk about it.”
