Outside the Locker Room mental health program for AFL players comes to SA

A MENTAL health program devised by a former AFL player will be rolled out by the SANFL and amateur football clubs across metropolitan Adelaide.

A MENTAL health program devised by a former AFL player will be rolled out by the SANFL and amateur football clubs across metropolitan Adelaide.

Since its launch in 2015, the Outside the Locker Room program from former Carlton player Jake Edwards has been used by more than 100 grassroots sporting clubs and schools across the country.

The welfare and education program, successfully trialled in the Riverland last year, encourages sportspeople to talk about their mental health.

Players are able to access confidential counselling through the program, while coaches and support staff learn the many warning signs of depression, anxiety and suicide.

Edwards, who was at rock bottom and attempted to take his own life after a turbulent four years at the Blues, says the stigma attached to mental health is widespread across all sports.

“We get a lot of coaches and footy clubs contacting us on the back of something that has already happened at the club,” he says.

Jake Edwards, a former Carlton footballer, is now playing with Geelong's VFL side. His AFL mental health program called Outside the Locker Room is coming to SA. Picture: Kylie Else

“In the past 48 hours, we have had three clubs contact us who want to get involved in our program and all three of them, unfortunately, have had a suicide at their club.

“Sporting clubs fall within a community and our community has these problems, from mental health to drugs, and it would be ignorant to think that these people aren’t taking their problems into their sporting clubs.

“We want clubs to be more proactive as you don’t need to have issues internally before you seek some help.”

Edwards was drafted by Carlton in 2005, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who both played in the VFL.

But after years of hard work and dedication to his childhood dream, Edwards suddenly felt “crippled by anxiety” despite his achievements.

“My biggest fear at the time wasn’t what I was going through, but it was what would happen if my teammates or coaches found out,” he says.

It was not until his return to Victorian country football that he realised something had to be done about his health.

Information at outsidethelockerroom.com.au

If you or someone you know is at risk, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14