Sydney superstar Lance Franklin abandoned the 2015 finals series – in an effort to regain his mental health. Credit:Dallas KIlponen It potentially raises a broader issue. So while some columnists wrote guardedly about the warm treatment the football personality has received from his employers despite the revelations about his private life, the flickering forum of Twitter – of course – raised the issue more bluntly. Scepticism manifests itself in that space more readily, and so people opined that any celebrity embroiled in a scandal today now has a mental illness – that making such a claim had become a "bulletproof curtain" against scrutiny. Others responded that casting doubt on the emotional state of an imperfect stranger might dissuade other sufferers from coming forward, and that people sounding off about such matters don't understand the further damage they are causing.

Sharing her pain: Wrestler Ronda Rousey opens up during an interview with Ellen DeGeneres. Credit:YouTube: TheEllenShow Mental health support group Beyond Blue swiftly wished Lyon a speedy recovery, supported Channel 9 for giving him time off to work through his problems, and called on the community to respect the man's privacy. Fairfax sports writer Rohan Connolly spoke on SEN Radio about the situation – not as a fellow football commentator but as someone who has dealt with depression all his working life. Citing the 'black wings' of depression, English cricketer Marcus Trescothick walked away from the test arena at the peak of his career. Lyon's situation was, he said, not to be trifled with or disregarded.

"Regardless of the circumstances, I'm quite worried about people making light of it," he said. Tiger Woods. Credit:Paul Rovere "You'd hate to think a guy who was in a really dark place – we drove him to a darker place. You wouldn't want to be responsible for a guy losing the plot." Dr Eric Morris, the head of clinical psychology and counselling at La Trobe University, said people need to be careful with scepticism, as we live in an age when mental health issues are quite rightly – and finally – legitimised. Geelong footballer Mitch Clark chose to temporarily retire in 2014 citing mental illness and personal issues. Credit:Getty Images

"Through years of anti-stigma campaigns and much more language around mental health, people are willing to describe those problems," he said. "You can see the change particularly for men of a certain generation, often sporting personalities." Ricky Nixon unsuccessfully appealed the speeding ticket. Credit:Justin McManus Disgraced former player agent Ricky Nixon has discussed spending time in mental health treatment, as has Tiger Woods. Geelong footballer Mitch Clark and Sydney superstar Lance Franklin have both made the extraordinary move of stepping away from the game – one temporarily retiring, the other abandoning a finals series – in an effort to regain mental health.

English batsman Marcus Trescothick left test cricket at the peak of his career citing the "black wings" of depression. The list goes on - former North Melbourne player Nathan Thompson; just this week, Rhonda Rousey. In some cases they have become ambassadors for mental health awareness. The modern response – which is desirable – is kinder and more compassionate than it might have been 30 years ago, indicative of the more emotionally literate society we have become. The question is whether that compassion can, or is, or will be abused? "There are going to be a minority who 'game' that, just as there are people who throw around terms like depression lightly," says Morris.

"People trivialise, too, calling themselves 'a bit OCD' or 'a little bipolar'." "It's quite a card to play if you think it's been cynically played," says Morris. "But how do we tread? What are the rules? Sometimes people are legitimately anguished and need time and space – the pursuit of the truth of things may have to wait." In that light it seems worth asking whether – far beyond the realm of celebrity – questions are raised about the use of mental health as a kind of shield in other walks of life, away from the spotlight. Starting with the challenges facing our workforce seems a good place to begin. Peter Wilson, chairman of the Australian Human Resources Institute, says perhaps their best data on the rise of mental health issues comes from counting workplace injuries.

"Stress claims have gone ballistic since about 2000," Wilson says. "Half of workplace injury claims are now stress claims. There a high cohort of people seeing compensation or time off work due to stress." Detecting what percentage of such claims are fraudulent, however, is difficult. Human resources directors from AHRI do scrutinise claims – based on secondary medical opinions, reference checks, and even home visits – and estimate that "at least 20 per cent" of mental health or stress claims cannot be confirmed with independent tests or checks. "It's like sick leave itself," Wilson said. "It is abused." But everything is open to exploitation. Chucking a sickie is the Australian way – we average 2-3 more sick days per year than the UK, with no logical explanation.

With mental health claims, companies often reserve the right to send you to their nominated doctor or psychiatrist for a second opinion. "If you make a work compensation claim, for instance, they've got a right – subject to privacy – to have that illness validated," Wilson said. "To show that you haven't gone doctor shopping." So what about schools? Judy Crowe, president of the Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals, notes depression and anxiety are cited by students as reasons for everything from submitting work late, to skipping a school camp or complying with uniform policy. Confirming the legitimacy of the claims is a "tricky area", she says, because naturally schools need to be respectful of the students and their parents. But there are often complicating factors. A father might be concerned by the behaviour he sees in his daughter at home, yet what is observed in her by teachers at school could be completely different, Crowe says, and parents are inclined to make excuses for their child.

"We also might see some cases where the parents consider the behaviour extreme, but in the spectrum of broader adolescent behaviour it could be not as extreme as they think it is," Crowe says. "Often that can be reassuring for families." Ultimately, no matter what the forum, it is an overwhelming positive thing when people talk about mental health issues. Connolly, who yesterday allowed people into his varied battles with depression, pointed out that still more education is needed. "It's not like something that comes on, you deal with it, life goes on and that's it," he said. "There are times you're more prone to being depressed, or you emerge from it, but it's never done."