The problems with mental illness are widespread among young women's soccer players, a Danish study states.

In a new documentary from DR, Mie Leth Jans, who played for Vittsjö GIK in the women's league last season, is included and talks about the mental problems that arose when she was one of Denmark's most promising talents.

- I felt pressured.

I kept thinking: What can I do to get better?

What can I do to reach my goals?

What can I do to become the best soccer player?

I thought about that all the time and never got a break, because I just wanted to live up to my own expectations and the expectations of others, says Mie Leth Jans in the documentary.

Suffered from attacks

According to a study presented in DR's documentary, 28.1 percent of young female elite soccer players have symptoms of anxiety and 40.3 percent have symptoms of depression.

Mie Leth Jans has made 26 A international matches for Denmark and talks about anxiety attacks that could come several times a week.

- A few times it was so uncontrolled that I couldn't breathe and convulsed.

The thought struck me: What is happening to me?

One of the first times I was afraid that I would have some kind of attack that I could die from, she says.

Harder: "Not really understood"

According to the study, the young female players have more than four times the risk of developing symptoms of anxiety and depression as the male players.

One explanation put forward for that is the ladies' focus on body weight.

- I think there are many coaches or leaders who have not really understood how we women think about weight.

Especially when you are compared to others, says superstar Pernille Harder.

Mia Beck Lichtenstein is a psychologist and professor at the University of Southern Denmark.

- Young women are more perfectionistic than men.

They are more emotionally burdened by being in competitive environments, she says in the documentary.