Tackling mental health head on

All Blacks legend Keven Mealamu is one of a number of high profile rugby players who appear in New Zealand Rugby’s Headfirst Campaign. Photo: NZRU

New Zealand Rugby is tackling mental illness and the stigma associated with getting help with the launch of a new website and social media campaign targeting the rugby community.

The Headfirst website offers players, parents, coaches, referees, volunteers and supporters a resource to get information about mental fitness, mental health and wellbeing.

Launched yesterday, the campaign features stories from All Blacks legend Keven Mealamu, All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith, Black Ferns Sevens star Ruby Tui, former Chiefs and Junior All Blacks prop James McGougan, Sunwolves' Liaki Moli and former international referee Chris Pollock, amongst others.

NZR Education Manager Dr Nathan Price says with one in five kiwis experiencing mental illness each year and our youth suicide rate is one of the highest in the OECD, the statistics are 'sobering”.

'Rugby plays a huge role in the fabric of our community and culture. Over 170,000 Kiwis play rugby, coach and referee. Hundreds of thousands more are volunteers, parents and fans. Rugby is engrained in our communities and by default contributes to mental health statistics.

'Rugby is in a unique position to contribute to the conversation around mental health and wellbeing.”

Nathan says this campaign is especially important for the NZRU because it works with a number of high risk groups.

A large number of Kiwi rugby players are young men, and 75 percent of mental health issues start before the age of 25. The male suicide rate is 19 per 100,000, compared to the female rate is six per 100,000. Maori and Pasifika people are also overrepresented in mental health statistics.

'When a player suffers a physical injury they get it treated. We want mental health to be seen in the same way, it should be no different. At the first sign of a problem people should seek help and get support and treatment.”

There's a perception that rugby players are tough and asking for help is a sign of weakness, but Nathan explains the Headfirst campaign is all about breaking that notion down, adding: 'Asking for help is actually incredibly courageous and very tough”.

'We can help to shift perceptions by asking rugby players to talk about these issues and show people who look up to them that mental health and wellbeing are best dealt with by being open and seeking help.

'Our aim is to get the Headfirst website and resources in front of as many within the rugby community as possible. Improving mental health literacy and awareness is the first step in tackling the problem. Once awareness is raised people are much more likely to seek help.”

Black Ferns Sevens star Ruby Tui.

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1 comment

golly gosh

Posted on 17-03-2017 13:47 | By old trucker

Ive watched over the many years this condition,(my thoughts) NOBODY CARES, they make out they do,someone i know whom i went to a therapy session with the person did not care and looked out the window all the time went in one ear and out the other,(money for nothing) you are judged,this is terrible,things can be life changing in a instant and its all down hill from there,best is to DO YOUR BEST each day,take care out there, I CARE Sunlive. IVE been there and i could not get help,i was judged and when my Boss found out,found excuse to let me go,he should never have found out,LOOSE LIPS sink ships,Boss 6 months later passed away, immm,Sunlive Thankyou,10-4 out.


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