Tackling the Issue of Mental Health
There is a need for a rugby psychologist in the country to help our players tackle mental health problems. This is a rising issue among international rugby players across the world while here most players are fighting a silent war in trying to overcome it.
The Retired Players Association’s survey in 2019 revealed that 62 per cent of players experienced some kind of mental health problem within two years of retiring.
More than half did not feel in control of their lives two years after they retired and 50 per cent have had financial difficulties in the first five years after retiring.
There are different kinds of mental health problems. They are anxiety disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, dementia and eating disorders.
Most Fijian players often fall in one of these categories, which often leads to nonperformance.
Why the sudden impact
According to Team Fiji’s chef de mission to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Patrick Bower most of the players are mentally affected by the sudden change in their daily lives.
“Most athletes and rugby players who are unemployed will be mentally affected,” Bower said.
“So they need to talk to someone as they need to be heard.
“We have pyscologists from Australia who are helping us and its working well so the Fijian sevens team will be joining soon.” The world has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and has affected players and job markets.
The global economic status has been greatly affected and it has taken a big hit on overseas clubs where most of our professional rugby players are contracted to.
They have suffered big pay cuts, some even had their contracts slashed while others are totally relying on the goodwill of their club owners. And to live far away from home and not to be with their loved ones will surely affect them mentally.
Fijian players often choose to face their problems quietly. And what they don’t realise is that when it comes to mental health issues they need to confront it with an expert.
Looking back
This is important because it brought back memories of a Fijian player who was playing in France and committed suicide in 2016.
When news broke out of his death, a former team-mate who was playing then in the National Rugby League (NRL) in Australia, went to social media, revealing how the deceased had shared about his problems to him. Little did the deceased know, that his former team-mate was also experiencing similar problems because soon after that his NRL career ended abruptly as he incurred huge debts due to his addiction to gambling.
That is why the need for professional help is vital because if they don’t than the consequences will be great.
Many in the past have preferred to do it on their own but they often end up on the wrong side of life where they find themselves in a dark hole with no answers.
The Fiji Rugby Union is doing all it can to tackle the problem. But still a lot of effort is needed in terms of consultation and help for the players.
Mental health victims need someone to talk to, someone to hear them out and offer them sound advice that will bring comfort and reassurance at the same time.
Journeys
Unsparingly, it is not exactly breaking news that playing a team sport has been proven to have several benefits on your mental health.
There are countless blogs, articles and reports outlining why every sport from football to hockey can positively affect your well-being and self-esteem, but why is rugby in particular the ideal tool for tackling mental health?
In my opinion, the culture of the game is what makes rugby one of the most mentally fulfilling and truly special sports played today. Moving beyond the physical game itself, the social aspect and team camaraderie stretches far beyond the 80 minutes spent on the pitch.
I don’t know about you, but I have never once finished a match, home or away, and not then felt compelled to go into the clubhouse for a post-match meal and beer (or two). There is almost an expectation that, win or lose, the team remains together and spends time with one another, which can often provide a much-needed sense of purpose for those suffering in silence.
So, we’ve discussed the culture of rugby and the game itself. What about its biggest ambassadors, the players?
In a game where competitors are often perceived and stereotyped to be ‘alpha males’, the impact that can come from professional players speaking openly and honestly about their mental health can often be more meaningful than anything else.
The past few years one of the world’s fastest winger in rugby, Rupeni Caucaunibuca, shared his experiences with mental health issues, ranging from depression.
The reason that these conversations are so impactful and important is because it demonstrates that even though you may be seen as an indestructible, muscle-bound professional athlete, looks can be deceiving and anyone, absolutely anyone can be affected by mental health.
Without a doubt, younger players idolise professional rugby players in the hope of one day emulating their successes and achievements.
Share the story
This salient fact is why it is so crucial, now more than ever, for players from both the men’s and women’s game to air their mental health journeys.
Demonstrating that no one should ever be ashamed to admit they’re struggling or embarrassed to seek help is the key message that rugby can help to deliver on a local, national and international stage.
Even from the top down, the game of rugby is looking for new initiatives to help start the conversation around mental health and encourage people to speak up about any difficulties they’re experiencing.
Let’s learn from the English RFU who has teamed up with one of the leading mental health charities in England and Wales, to provide information, advice and guidance to anyone involved in rugby who may be dealing with mental health issues.
It’s never too late to start.