LET’S TALK BLOKES
Ex-cowboys winger urges men to speak up about mental health
GROWING up, former Cowboys winger Antonio Winterstein remembers an overwhelming “pressure” to be a man.
The premiership winner said this demand was one of the hardest thing he faced growing up.
Mr Winterstein said he never realised the danger of letting those feelings and emotions simmer until he lost his younger brother, Francis Winterstein, to suicide.
The talented 19-year-old was contracted with the Brisbane Broncos and had been playing in Townsville with the Stingers when he took his own life.
“The passing of my brother has made me more aware of mental health issues,” Mr Winterstein said.
“I reflect on my own upbringing, I come from a very proud Polynesian family where uncles and fathers are the providers and protectors.
“You have this tough mentality that everything is OK. It is just the culture and with that culture comes phrases like ‘ toughen up’, ‘man up’ and ‘harden up’.
“That just contributes stigma of not speaking up.” to that
Mr Winterstein spoke about men’s mental health and its impacts on his life at a mental health breakfast hosted at Calvary Christian Church.
Mr Winterstein said talking with men about their emotions was important to ensure more lives were not lost and that blokes felt more comfortable to speak up about their mental health.
Through his role in the NRL, Mr Winterstein has worked closely with the league’s State of Mind program.
He said he was shocked to learn recently that young people were more likely to take their lives than die in car accidents.
“If that (statistic) does not get the message across to our community,” he said.
“As men and as footy players the way you’re expected to deal with your emotions is just to dismiss them.”
He said there had been a “big shift” in the league and broader community over recent years where men and boys were being told it was OK to open up.
“For players to have the courage to come out and say they are struggling and they are seeking help is a really big turning point,” he said. Francis Winterstein died by suicide about the same time as two other young rugby league players, Cowboys under-20 player Regan Grieve, 18, and Mackay Cutters player Hayden Butler, 20.
“Mental health does not discriminate, it does not matter how much money you are making or how big your profile is, you can still be impacted,” Mr Winterstein said.
Anyone seeking support should contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 and lifeline.org.au or Beyond Blue at beyondblue.org.au