Lina Magull breaks the silence: This is how she defeated depression!

Lina Magull breaks the silence: This is how she defeated depression!

Mental health in competitive sports is a topic that is increasingly coming into focus. An impressive example is Lina Magull, the former national soccer player, who recently spoke openly about her severe depression and admitted herself to a private psychiatric clinic. In her podcast “How are you, Lina Magull?” she gives insights into her traumatic experiences. These show how crucial it is to talk about mental health problems in sport and to improve support for affected athletes.

After the tremendous success with the silver medal at the 2022 European Championships, Magull fell into a mental hole. The disappointment over the elimination in the preliminary round of the 2023 World Cup significantly increased their internal struggles. With the loss of her role at FC Bayern Munich and in the national team, it was as if the important pillars of her life were being torn away. In addition, there were profound changes in her private environment, so she made the decision to go to Milan - an escape that turned out to be unsuccessful.

A step towards healing

In the summer of 2024, Magull finally sought help and admitted herself to a private clinic to address her problems. Fortunately, after just six weeks in the clinic, she was able to find joy in life and football again. She is particularly proud of her decision to seek treatment and the progress she has made since then. However, Magull criticizes the inadequate treatment options in Germany, especially the lack of psychotherapists and psychiatrists who could ensure quick access to intensive therapies. Your example shows how important it is to take the topic of mental health in sport seriously and to take it out of the taboo zone.

A current study by TSG Hoffenheim led by sports psychologist Lina Bürger underlines how widespread psychological problems are in football. She surveyed 205 players aged between U12 and U14 in a unique long-term study to determine symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders. Their investigations show that competitive athletes often struggle with such challenges and that the stress increases as the season progresses.

Results and support

The study shows that depressive symptoms increase significantly, particularly at the beginning of the second half of the season, as the season approaches the winter months. In order to counteract this, the TSG is planning measures to support affected players and to raise awareness throughout the entire sporting environment. This includes workshops for coaches as well as a dialogue with the Robert Enke Foundation and the Heidelberg University Hospital to promote and support mental health in football.

In general, a study at the German Sport University in Cologne shows that around one in ten competitive athletes in Germany has depressive symptoms. Young people under the age of 18 are particularly vulnerable, and risk factors such as female gender or membership in certain cadres have been identified. The importance of early identification and access to professional support and treatment options can be life-changing for many athletes.

The developments surrounding Lina Magull and current research on psychological stress in competitive sports make it clear that it is time to openly discuss mental health and take concrete measures. Clubs, coaches and associations have a great responsibility to ensure the sporting and mental health of athletes, because sporting success should not come at the expense of well-being.

Magull's story and the accompanying studies are a call to the sports community to be braver, to talk about psychological stress and to create solid support for athletes.

Further information on Magull's experiences can be found in the articles Main Post, while the findings from TSG Hoffenheim are below TSG Hoffenheim can be viewed. You can find the general studies on the topic here BISP.