Within the White Lines: How the Beautiful Game Saved My Life

Growing up, Ruth was on track for an ideal life - she had the grades, friends, great sporting potential, and a strong bond with her sister.

However, when she was 14, her perfect life began to crack. After suffering an injury, Ruth began seeking control in other areas of her life to combat growing feelings of depression. Having recovered physically, but not mentally, she eventually quit the game she loved so much. Having been let down repeatedly by the authorities - including during a stay in a mental health hospital - she sought support and understanding from authority figures and role models.

As she battled through the next few years, Ruth rediscovered football as a way to keep grounded during the most chaotic times in her life. Now an active campaigner for mental health awareness and training, especially in sport, Ruth is a proud ambassador and advisor for The Shaw Mind Foundation and Mental Health Football Association.

Ruth Fox lives in Hertfordshire, UK and is a mental health campaigner, author, footballer and public speaker. She was diagnosed with depression at age 14 and has since faced a difficult battle with the illness. She reached her lowest point in November 2017, when she was admitted into hospital following self-harm and suicidal thoughts.Ruth painstakingly rebuilt her life, and has now found her purpose in helping others. Her goal is to have a positive impact on as many people as possible, especially in the sporting world, by emphasising the importance of mental health training. She is a proud ambassador and adviser for The Shaw Mind Foundation, Mental Health FA, and Cambridge United Women’s FC.