Matildas star Mary Fowler has opened up about her struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts in a new memoir, earning praise from coach Joe Montemurro for her courage. The 22-year-old Manchester City forward, currently recovering from a serious knee injury, detailed her mental health challenges when she moved to Europe at age 17.
Fowler wrote that she began having suicidal thoughts after moving to France to play for Montpellier. She described an instance at age 20 when she came close to acting on them. 'In that moment, I didn't follow through. But I did sit there for most of the night pleading for anyone up above who would listen to please just take me,' she wrote.
Montemurro praised Fowler for speaking out, saying it highlighted the pressures professional athletes face. 'The more we talk about it, the more it's out in the open, the more that we're honest about it I think is amazing,' he said. 'This is a perfect example of someone that's been really courageous.'
Fowler attributed her struggles to financial pressures, high expectations, and a lack of French language skills and family support. She said self-harm was a way to divert emotional pain. 'I was having a bit of an identity crisis, trying to deal with the expectation to perform and struggling to navigate a difficult work environment,' she wrote.
Montemurro emphasised the importance of support systems, noting he recently visited players at their European clubs. Fowler is expected to return to play in January ahead of the Asian Cup, but will remain in the UK for the Matildas' upcoming matches against New Zealand.
