THE fact that Gary Speed so calmly appeared on Football Focus on Saturday and by Sunday was dead, was greeted by bewilderment by football fans.

We still hold to a stereotype that you can tell someone who is mentally unwell just by how they look. The majority of people who are mentally unwell look like you and me.

What was going on in Gary Speed’s head? And why could he not talk to anyone about how he was feeling? A British man may express his feelings down the footie and after a few drinks on a Saturday night (and I know that’s a stereotype) but how good are we at admitting when things are going wrong?

Admitting anxiety, unhappiness or depression is often not acceptable in a culture which demands we grin and bear it.

I hope that this sad event allows footballers and fans alike to be able to focus on mental health and well-being, to enable men (and women) to talk about their feelings, the good, the bad and the ugly.

And in an age of austerity, psychiatric services, often the Cinderella of the NHS, should be fully funded to prevent such suffering and death.

Liz Larkin, Birmingham.