When All Blacks legend John Kirwan’s book, All Blacks Don’t Cry, was published in 2010 it highlighted the reality of depression and mental health issues for professional sportspeople.
This year, tennis star Naomi Osaka and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles reignited the discussion on mental health. Osaka withdrew from the French Open and Biles pulled out of events at the Tokyo Olympics that she was expected to win – both for mental health reasons.
At this year’s Varsity Netball tournament, the FNB Player of the Match gets a bright green band with the words ‘SpeakUp’ on it, which they wear in the following match.
Varsity Sports has used the SpeakUp campaign to reach out to student-athletes and fans. The message is clear: Be aware of your mental wellness and state of mind. Talk to somebody who can help you live a balanced life. And whether you think you need to or not – SpeakUp!
When Kirwan broke the silence in 2010, depression and mental health were rarely talked about, hence the shock when a top sportsman like Australian rugby player Dan Vickerman committed suicide after retiring from the game. The list of American football players who have taken their lives since the late-1990s is in double digits.
However, when the world’s best women’s tennis player would rather not play in a Grand Slam tournament than risk her mental health and one of the most decorated Olympians decides not to chase more gold medals for mental health reasons, you know times are changing. Biles even used her Instagram stories to describe what she experienced when her mental health was affected.
Speaking up is finally part of the new normal.
Find out more about the SpeakUp campaign
By Eunice Visagie
Photo: Kevin Sawyer/VarsitySports
