Newcastle defender Dan Burn credits therapy for his mental health progress in 2026

Newcastle and England defender Dan Burn shared how therapy helped him manage his mental health and encouraged others to seek support.

Burn speaks about therapy Newcastle United and England defender Dan Burn revealed that therapy proved 'quite well' for him while strongly advising anyone facing mental health challenges to seek assistance. Speaking during the unveiling of the 'One of Our Own' initiative by Newcastle United and Newcastle City Council for Mental Health Awareness Week, Burn emphasized the importance of open conversations about mental wellbeing. Eleven unique public benches, each featuring thought-provoking questions, have been placed across Newcastle to encourage such discussions. Scannable QR codes on these benches provide access to a wide support network, including round-the-clock helplines like Samaritans. ## Wisdom for younger players Burn expressed his desire to support his children and younger teammates, drawing from his own experiences. He highlighted that young players will face situations they have never encountered before in their careers, so he aims to share small pieces of guidance. He repeatedly stressed that there are ways to address mental health concerns, adding that therapy was beneficial for him. He noted that alternatives like walking football also offer support, saying 'Therapy worked quite well for me. That doesn't mean it works for everyone, but things like this, the walking football - there's always something you can do to help each other and help yourself.' ## Proud of his journey Burn described himself as 'very proud' of his personal journey, recalling his release from Newcastle as a young player and his exit from Fulham in 2016. He made his first appearance for England last year and remains hopeful about securing a spot in the squad for the upcoming World Cup. 'I'm desperate to be there,' he shared. 'It's not as if it's going to come around again. I'm 34, so I'd be very surprised if I was in the running for the next World Cup. Hopefully I've done enough. We will find out in a couple of weeks.' ## World Cup squad deadline Nations must finalize their World Cup squads by May 31. The tournament, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19.