Snooker star Mark Allen has thanked fans for their ‘overwhelming’ support after he revealed his mental health battles – and shared two handwritten notes detailing ‘positive affirmations’ which help him deal with his struggles.
Allen, 40, revealed last week that he had spent ten weeks in a mental health clinic after an emotional interview where he revealed he could quit the sport.
Speaking after his defeat in the first round of the Northern Ireland Open on Tuesday, the former world No1 told TNT Sports that his career may be over as he deals with a lot of ‘problems within’ that mean he is ‘just trying to survive’.
The interview sparked a wave of concern from fans and Allen posted a statement on X where he said ‘I’m not OK,’ but insisted he was in a better place than he had been.
On Sunday morning, Allen then took to social media again to outline his determination to recover, before he shared his gratitude to fans for their response to him opening up on his struggles.
‘Completely overwhelmed by all the messages I have received since my statement,’ Allen wrote. ‘As I continue my treatment and my recovery now I know that I simply have to raise more awareness around mental health in the future.
‘Best part of 6 weeks before the UK Championships starts and all being well I’ll be in a better place by then but for now it’s just one day at a time. Thanks again for all your support. It’s meant so so much to myself and my family.’
A few hours later, Allen then demonstrated one of the ways he is trying to deal with things.
Mark Allen returned the sport in Belfast last week for his first match since May
The former World Championship semi-finalist brushed away a tear at the end of his interview following his defeat and was consoled by TNT Sport’s Rachel Casey
Sharing two photos of handwritten notes, Allen said: ‘I do these every morning with a cup of tea out of my positive mindset cup. Been doing this for 2 months now. You don’t have to believe it all at the start!!! It’ll come.’
The notes, titled ‘positive affirmations’, showed Allen writing down aspects of life that he was ‘grateful for’, ‘things from yesterday that made me happy/smile’ and he also had a series of words to describe himself.
These included Allen saying he was grateful for ‘my health’, ‘Harleigh (his nine-year-old daughter) being my shining light’, while a ‘nice dinner with my parents and Harleigh’ made him happy on Saturday.
Another page saw Allen write down a series of things about himself.
The list of 32 affirmations included reminding himself he is ‘a good dad’, ‘a good person’, ‘loyal’, ‘enjoying living in the present’, while he also wrote that ‘I am deserving of love’, ‘I am not my mistakes’ and ‘I am not a failure – I have failed at times’.
He also added: ‘I am strong,’ ‘I am brave,’ ‘I am a good friend’ and ‘I am OK just being.’
Allen’s notes, dated on Sunday, detail ‘things that made me happy/smile’ from the previous day… as well as a list of 32 ‘positive affirmations’
Allen’s emotional social media posts earlier in the week received swathes of positive responses, with several fans sharing messages of support for him.
In the TNT interview, Allen had indicated he could be set to take another long, and potentially permanent, break from the sport.
The 40-year-old was close to tears and received comforting support from his interviewer Rachel Casey after saying ‘the problems are within.’
That came after he lost 4-2 to Jordan Brown, a close friend and compatriot.
‘I think if I wasn’t playing Jordan I wouldn’t have come back,’ he said. ‘I felt like if I was going to play one last time, playing here at the Waterfront, where it all started in 2005, against one of my best mates, I thought that was a better way to sign out.’
Asked if he was serious about his threat to retire, Allen confirmed his view and continued: ‘I’ve been flooded with support but the problems are within. I just don’t see a future with snooker in it, if I’m honest.
The 40-year-old tied the knot with Sarah Herald last year and highlighted ‘Sarah’s intervention’ as something he was grateful for in his notes shared on X on Sunday
‘It’s sad to say, because it’s all I’ve loved to do since I was 12 but the last few months have been really difficult and it’s put snooker into perspective for me. At the minute I’m just trying to survive.’
Allen had previously stayed silent on his reasons for staying away from the tour.
However, in the past six years he has had to contend with bankruptcy and a divorce – with the latter prompting a five-stone weight loss.
It was in January 2021 when Allen declared himself bankrupt – citing that he spent his £3.5million in career prize money as fast as he earned it.
Allen’s financial situation was affected by his split from his ex-wife Kyla McGuigan. The pair had been married for seven years and share a daughter, Harleigh, born in 2017.
As well as Harleigh, Allen has a daughter with his former girlfriend Reanne Evans – another snooker star.
The duo, who have publicly feuded in the past, had a three-year relationship that ended in 2008.
Allen is now a married man once more after tying the knot with Sara Herald last year. They are understood to have first dated in 2023.
For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit thecalmzone.net/get-support.
