AFL star tackles mental illness

jack heath ceo As a Richmond tragic, I remember spending winter afternoons in 1985 – Richmond’s centenary year – watching Mark Eustice and the Tigers take the field.

Even though it was a tough Tiger year, the players appeared full of courage and strength. You could be forgiven for thinking they were invincible. If only that were true.

As part of Mental Health Week (October 9-15), SANE ambassador and former AFL great Mark Eustice is sharing his 25-year struggle with undiagnosed mental illness and substance abuse in an inspiring and compelling video in the hope it will encourage others to recognise the early symptoms of mental illness and seek support as soon as possible.

We applaud and thank Mark for sharing his story.

This year Mental Health Week comes on the back of figures released last week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showing men accounted for 76 per cent of all deaths by suicide in 2015.

That's six Australian men every day. Six men too many.

Men are also less likely to access services for mental health problems with only 28 per cent of men accessing services compared to 41 per cent of women.

The figures are alarming and we need to urgently close this gender gap.

SANE has put together resources to help everyone, especially men, find the support they need.

We’re strongly committed to helping all Australians affected by mental illness lead a better life through support, education and training.

https://www.sane.org/ceo-news/1899-afl-star-tackles-mental-illness

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