Turgut: I’m still here for a reason - to help others
EX-SALFORD STAR ON HIS SUICIDE BID
ON the anniversary of his fall from a three-storey car park a year ago, former Salford forward Jansin Turgut has opened up about the mental health struggles he faced prior to his suicide attempt in Ibiza.
After starting his career with Hull FC, the back-rower - who has represented Turkey at international level - moved to the AJ Bell Stadium mid-way through the 2018 season.
He featured only twice for the Red Devils at the end of that campaign, but impressed in the early rounds of 2019, making a further 10 appearances before his contract was terminated for ‘off-thefield’ reasons.
The 24-year-old admitted he had previously hidden his mental health challenges from team-mates and coaches, turning instead to drugs.
Turgut suffered a horrific list of injuries following his attempt to take his own life, with every bone in his face and both legs broken, his pelvis smashed and five vertebrae in his back fractured.
He has spoken out at the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, hoping to helps others who may suffer mental health challenges.
“I am grateful for having a second chance,” said Turgut. “Hopefully I am still here for a reason, and that’s to help others.
“If I can help just one person by telling my story I will have been successful - but I want to help as many as possible.
“I hid my problems from friends and team-mates because I didn’t want them to think I was inadequate.
“I hid it from my family because I didn’t want to pass the weight onto them. But instead of masking it, by finding things to help me forget, I should have spoken out.
“It can be a raw subject but it’s the only way to get help. The worst thing I’ve ever had to do in my life was telling my family the truth about how I’d felt.
“It was the hardest thing but it was also the best because now there is absolute honesty and it’s made our relationship stronger.”
Turgut was placed in an induced coma following the incident and lost four stones in three months while recovering in hospital, before he learnt to walk again.
Now, with the support of his family and friends inside and outside of rugby league, Turgut is hopeful of resuming his career in the sport, or even becoming a professional boxer.
For now, though, he’s focused on giving hope to others who find themselves in a similar situation.
“I wish I’d never put [family and friends] through all that, but I am grateful that it’s given me a chance to help others. I got a message off a stranger saying I had inspired them and that was one of the best things ever. You shouldn’t be embarrassed to seek help. It’s out there for everyone.”