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Diego Ribas was preparing for the final of the Brazilian Super Cup, in February, in Brasilia, when he was approached by a leader from Atlético, a rival of Flamengo. A child was hospitalized with depression, under the influence of medication, as he no longer saw any meaning in life after the separation of his parents, and a message of support from the playmaker at that time could motivate him and discourage him from ideas that could be tragic.
– As we were going to sleep there after the game, I offered to go to the hospital and visit him. I stayed in his room for about 40 minutes talking. In the end, I left my number in case you needed to talk to me – says number 10 of Flamengo, who will face Fluminense tomorrow, at 9:30 p.m., for the Brazilian. – About ten days ago, I spoke with this leader and he told me that the boy is fine, he is happy.
Diego Ribas’s attitude was not punctual. It has been routine since he married physiotherapist Bruna Letícia 10 years ago, who lived through a personal drama in childhood: the loss of her father by suicide when she was seven years old. The shock made her participate in the cause and realize that more people needed help.
In recent years, even with football day-to-day, Diego has been an important ally, especially in conversation with the youngest. Thanks to his role as an idol, a red-black follower who even said goodbye on social networks reversed his decision. The attitude went viral.
– Thousands of messages are received and we always try to help. We got in touch with the sister (of the fan), who said that he has had this type of behavior before, but it was fine – says Diego.
Thursday is World Suicide Prevention Day. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a person kills himself every 40 seconds in the world. This corresponds to 800 thousand deaths per year, it is little less than the total number of victims registered by Covid-19 on the planet, which today is 890 thousand. It is like a pandemic every year. The Yellow September campaign was conceived by the Life Valorization Center (CVV), in 2015, to give visibility to the discussion. CVV has a toll-free number that offers emotional support: 188.
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– I decided to make sense of my pain because it is a pain that does not go away. No child is programmed to grow up without their parents. At that age, I didn’t process anything, I just lived – says Bruna, about the traumatic process that she went through with the death of her father. – Today I feel privileged to touch on this issue and show people that they have a way out and it is not an option. When we approach a person in depression, we try to give that person a voice, so that they can express their feelings, sadness, joy … Maybe they understand that there is a way out.
From pain to fight
Bruna turned personal pain into strength to help others. She is one of the creators of the non-profit project “While there is breath”, which gives lectures in municipal and state schools in Rio de Janeiro. In total, she has visited more than 20 schools in the Campo Grande and Santa Cruz regions, in the Western Zone. The idea came after listening to a song composed by singers Biork and Thayanny Moura about people who want to express themselves and be heard, but cannot find a place.
All children who do not receive support in school or communities and identify with some form of abuse, self-harm, depression and others, are referred to close psychologists. The project is an initiative of Bruna herself.
– A young woman gave us a razor on one of those visits and said she would never cut herself again because she understood what was happening. It is a very present issue because young people live under a lot of pressure and many identify it as failures or frustrations – reports Bruna. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds, and the vast majority among men, according to the WHO.
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Approximately 90% of suicides can be prevented with psychological help, and most of them are caused by mental illnesses that are not treated, by not having a correct diagnosis or by inattention. According to psychologist Luiza Elena Valle, a doctor from the University of São Paulo (USP) and a teacher at PUC Campinas, attitudes like those of Diego Ribas and Bruna are fundamental because they are idols for thousands of people.
– As for Diego, idols have a huge influence. They are names that people follow, follow … Their victories are as if they were ours. They have this power to provide sensitivity – says the psychologist. – Bruna shows how much can be done with people who think that it should not be talked about. There is a lot of taboo about it.
Luiza Elena warns that the new coronavirus pandemic has accentuated several emotional problems. The social isolation of those who can stay at home has put people off, even though technology, such as messaging apps or video chat, has reduced the distance somewhat. According to the psychologist, when a person is depressed, it is important that those closest to them show interest, concern. When such an attitude comes from an idol or someone she considers important, the weight is much greater.
– It is important to seek to know, to seek to speak. You talk about depression and it seems trivial. Everyone has an answer on what to do. They do not understand that the person with depression is sick, he did not choose that.
Sports cases
Although he has been involved in off-field actions alongside Bruna for the past decade, Diego knows that depression is lurking in the world of soccer. An environment of high pressure, which reserves success to a small portion, leads players to face psychological problems that are not always shared in the dressing room or with close friends.
A study by the International Federation of Professional Soccer Players (FIF-Pro) showed that professional athletes suffer more psychiatric illnesses than the general public: of the 607 respondents, 38% reported suffering from symptoms of depression and / or anxiety.
– There are players who suffer from it or who have suffered it at some point and who, in this situation, often end up hiding. This can have very serious consequences – says Diego.
Now 35, with experience in the main clubs in Brazil and Europe, the Flamengo player can identify when an athlete is down, from the club or from the opponent. He is discreet about names, but has had colleagues who have been through difficult situations and who needed drug treatment. Leader on the field and off, the jersey 10 has a procedure when it perceives something different.
– I try to exchange ideas, experiences, understand and explain that this happens to all of us – he says. – We need to share our fears and ghosts, because that eases the load.
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