DAVID SOLE

We’ve just had Mental Health Awareness week, and the timing could not have been better, as the country hears about how lockdown restrictions may begin to be eased.

A lot of evidence suggests the Covid-19 pandemic is going to have a material effect on the psychological welfare of many people. Professional rugby players are no exception.

Their routines have been massively disrupted and their worlds, which are usually well-controlled and set out, have been turned upside down and inside out all at once.

Novelty, loss of control and uncertainty are deemed the Holy Trinity for a stress response – all three are currently widespread. So it is hardly surprising mental health is receiving such attention.

There is a growing list of pro rugby players who have admitted to having mental-health problems, putting to bed the belief that you should “toughen up” and “get on with it”. Opening up and talking about mental health is key and no-one

should feel ashamed about sharing these issues.

Ben Atiga, the former All Black who is now the Player Liaison Officer for the SRU, spoke about this last week.

He has been reaching out to the rank-and-file of Scotland’s professional game to check up on them, and to suggest ways of maintaining good mental health.

Recognising that he isn’t a psychologist, Atiga is able to direct players towards more-professional support if that is needed. But reaching out and talking about how you are feeling is an important first step.

The challenge is not new and there are concerns that a deterioration in mental health could be connected to head injuries – in particular, concussion.

The story in the USA of Dr Bennet Omalu, who proved that chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) was linked to sustained head impact in American football, led to a class action against the NFL.

This cost the league $765 million in 2013, a settlement that was amended to be uncapped two years later.

The most-significant issue in the story was the deterioration in players’ mental health who were suffering from CTE – an issue rugby can’t ignore.

The current focus on the issue of mental health can only be a good thing for the sport. Encouraging players to open up and talk about how they feel is the first step. There are many support measures and ways of coping thereafter that can be learned. But that self-awareness and preparedness to reach out for help is the first critical step on the road to recovery.

The rugby community talk about the strength of the family. It is time to call on the family for support.