Patrik Laine said that he suffers from mental health problems. Anni Vuohijoki, 35, thinks that talking about internal problems in the head office in public is a good thing.
– I have recognized how important it is to prioritize my mental health and well-being.
Patrick Laine made quite a news bomb when he openly talked about his problems, for which he has sought help from the NHL players’ association’s treatment program.
– Ice hockey has been my passion and my life, but I have realized that I now have to focus on myself so that I can be at my best, Laine said on Instagram.
The news stopped the entire puck world, as the forward was supposed to have only suffered from various physical injuries throughout the season.
A former Olympic-level weightlifter who now works as a doctor Anni Vuohijoki has spoken a lot about mental health problems. He doesn’t take a stand on Laine’s situation, but is happy that people dare to talk openly about problems inside the head these days.
– Openness improves access to help. Visible examples are needed, Vuohijoki says.
That kind of Laine really is, a visible and courageous example.
When a superstar known for his boundless self-confidence dares to talk about his problems in a macho culture like hockey, it can encourage even an ordinary street person to ask for help in the midst of difficulties.
“No formula”
Uuhijoki knows how it feels when mental health problems hit. At the age of 18, after the violent death of his brother, he suffered from severe depression because he did not know how to deal with the tragedy properly. Depression manifested itself as anxiety, among other things.
– To me, it felt like fear that life would explode. It felt like a void that no substance or substance could fill. It felt like pressure in the chest, tiredness in the morning. My depression was insomnia, Vuohijoki told Iltalehte already in 2020.
Laine also faced a family tragedy at a young age, when her Harry-her father passed away at the age of 54 in December 2021. Laine was only 23 at the time.
However, according to Vuohijoki, there is no specific “pattern” or event that regularly leads to certain types of mental health problems.
– It is affected by the individual’s resilience and support network. And even if they are all fine, too much can still be too much, says Vuohijoki.
People also seek help at different stages. Some never agree to open up, while others are already trying to prevent mental health problems.
– Traumas are a good example. Some seek trauma therapy right away in order to get over the trauma quickly, but others first stay to see if the trauma leaves traces.
The story continues after the picture.
Patrik Laine’s season has been dark. Petri Saarelainen / AOP
Heavy pressure
Top athletes often live in the midst of intense pressure to perform. Especially superstars who make millions, like Lainee, constantly have huge expectations around their necks.
– Performance pressures are not a problem in themselves, but how we have been taught to handle them, Vuohijoki reminds.
Today, many top athletes put a lot of effort into mental training, because you can develop pressure tolerance just as you can physically.
– In competitive sports, you should already learn to manage disappointments, to succeed and, on the other hand, to fail. If they are just swept under the table, problems will come, Vuohijoki sees.
Laine has experienced disappointment after disappointment really since he moved to Columbus in January 2021. He has missed no fewer than 89 games due to various injuries and personal reasons.
Anni Vuohijoki has experience with mental health problems. Matti Matikainen