Ben Chilwell: Chelsea and England defender opens up on mental health support, says stigma ‘needs to go’

England defender Ben Chilwell has revealed he has been “talking to someone for a few years now” about his mental health, adding the stigma around it “needs to go”.

The Chelsea full-back has been recalled by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate for the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine on Thursday and Sunday respectively after missing the 2022 World Cup with a hamstring injury.

England are back in action for the first time since their defeat to France in the quarter-finals in Qatar.

“I’ve been talking to someone for a few years now, and I think the stigma around it is silly really, especially with men, and men in football in particular,” Chilwell said.

“The way it has helped me, I think it can definitely help everyone. The stigma is something that needs to go.”

Chilwell – who was named in the England squad at Euro 2020 but didn’t play a minute as England lost in the final – is hoping to use the heartache of missing out on the England squad in Qatar as something positive.

“Of course, mentally, it is very challenging,” he continued. “All footballers go through periods of their career when things are mentally challenging and you have to be resilient, be strong, go through it and come through the other side stronger.

“That’s the way I’ve tried to look at things like the injuries I’ve had and missing the World Cup.

“I’m trying to spin it into a positive situation, so I can better myself mentally and physically, so when I come back playing I’m ready to help Chelsea and England as well.”

The 26-year-old’s Chelsea team-mate Reece James is also back in the England set-up having also missed the World Cup due to injury, and Chilwell revealed the pair helped each other through what was a difficult experience.

“Very pleased to see him back, I know what a great player Reece is,” added Chilwell.

“In a weird way, it was nice to have each other during that time as it was someone you could share the pain of missing a World Cup with, and we helped each other a lot from the experience.”

Now that he is back to full fitness, Chilwell has given Southgate a decision to make as to who starts at left-back with Manchester United’s Luke Shaw also pushing for a starting role.

“One of the keys to a strong squad and successful squad is when you have two or three in each position pushing each other as competition for places is important in all successful teams,” Chilwell continued.

“We want to be one of those very successful teams in the near future so if we are going to have competition for places at left-back it can only be a good thing and hopefully me and Luke can push each other.”