Image source: bbc.com
Manchester United defender Rhys Bennett has spoken publicly about his father David’s suicide in October, using his platform to encourage people struggling with mental health issues to seek help and urging others to check on loved ones regularly.
Manchester United’s Rhys Bennett Opens Up About Father’s Suicide to Help Others
The 22-year-old defender, who captained United’s FA Youth Cup-winning team in 2022, posted a heartbreaking message on social media on 28 October after his father David took his own life. Bennett described feeling “broken, devastated” and not wanting to believe the tragedy was real, telling his father he loved him “in this life and the next.”
Bennett emphasised his father’s positive impact on his life and career, describing David as hard-working and someone who gave his time to help both Rhys and his daughter Megan, who works in mental health care. The defender credited his father with instilling resilience and work ethic, expressing gratitude for the family’s investment in helping him fulfil his football dreams and their constant support throughout his journey.
Speaking to BBC Sport at Manchester United’s Carrington training ground, Bennett stressed the importance of checking on people regularly and not assuming someone is fine based on appearances. He highlighted how people struggling with mental health often “put masks on” and maintain brave faces while crying out for someone to ask if they are alright, emphasising that simply asking “how are you?” could make a significant difference to someone’s wellbeing.
The defender, who is currently recovering from a knee injury before completing a loan move to a League One club next month, said his father’s death has given him a different perspective and purpose in life. Bennett acknowledged that future achievements will be “bittersweet” because his father will not be there to witness them, but stated that David’s memory spurs him on and gives him “fire in his belly” to succeed for his father, family and himself.
Bennett concluded with a direct appeal for people to reach out for help, regardless of the time of day, mentioning that helplines operate 24 hours and encouraging people to connect with family and friends. He stressed the importance of letting loved ones know they will be there for support, stating that people should reach out and “be there for the people that you love and appreciate the most.”
