https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/at-the-time-it-was-like-the-world-was-going-to-end/3752352/ BACK-to-back serious knee injuries gave Jayden Hodges one positive: hindsight. The Mackay Cutters vice-captain had taken his talents to the Manly Sea Eagles on an NRL contract. In 2016, he suffered the first of two ACL tears to halt his progress. The experience was a test for his mental wellbeing. Having overcome his own demons, the Cutters hooker has used this newfound perspective to advocate for men's mental health awareness. "It's known men don't speak ... and blokes have been taught to bottle it up, have some concrete and harden up,” Mr Hodges said. "I didn't really have any experience with long-term injuries, and to have two years off the game, dealing with it is out of your control. "At the time it was like the world was going to end, but now, looking back at it, I'm appreciative I was able to become stronger for it and learn so much more from it. "For me it was about connecting with mentors and blokes that have been through stuff out of their control. We all go through it, and I found that really comforting talking about it.” This week marks Men's Health Week; encompassing a range of illnesses and diseases to encourage greater awareness.
Statistics show almost 20 per cent of deaths for every 100,000 men in Australia are due to intentional self-harm. As a teacher aide, Mr Hodges said it was important to "practise what he preached” and lead by example for his students. He said the power sport held in Australia provided a platform to facilitate conversations on mental health, and it was important for athletes to encourage change. "We're able to have that power to influence change and change those mentalities around those issues,” he said. "I'm on a platform where I can educate people about these real life issues and what actually happens for blokes who are struggling. "That's what sport can do: it can create change.” The issue of men's mental health is something seen across all sporting codes, according to Darren Smith. The Mackay & Whitsundays Magpies Crusaders United general manager said mental health was an ongoing and prevalent issue among athletes. A self-confessed sporting tragic, Mr Smith said the camaraderie of sport provided a comfortable outlet in men's lives and resonated with them strongly to guide conversations around health. He said the likes of captain Nelson Burgess and coach Henry Kennell had been driving forces for the squad to open up on their issues. "We relate life to sport. When I talk to my kids and family, a lot of the references you draw back to are sport,” Mr Smith said. "Creating good habits and those conversations are really important.” "Sport has a really important role to play, keeping those guys focused and having something they really get some enjoyment out. Sometimes it provides a bit of a distraction for those things going on outside.”
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorSelection of sport content. I was regularly called upon to assist with sport in the abscence of other staff. Archives
November 2019
Categories |