Para Hills Football Club hosts Breakthrough Community Round, raising money for mental health research
‘I locked myself in my bedroom in the dark and didn’t want to be associated with my friends’ — local footballer Ryan Rebbeck knows what its like to spiral into a deep depression. Now with the help of his footy club, he’s raising awareness and funds for mental health research.
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Ryan Rebbeck always felt he had to be stoic, strong and fearless.
He wanted to be a typical Aussie bloke — an amateur footballer with Para Hills who thought showing his emotions would make people think he was weak.
But inside the then 23-year-old was struggling and eventually spiralled into a deep, dark depression.
“I had my life going real good, had a good job and just bought a job so everything was real good,” Rebbeck, now 35, said.
“But as time went on, I split up with my girlfriend, the house I bought had a lot of faults.
“I was running an extension cord to the kitchen to run power throughout my whole house, I had no hot water, my roof was leaking and it was just an absolute nightmare.
“I sort of locked myself in my bedroom in the dark.
“I avoided the footy club and avoided family outings.
“I was captain of the footy club at the time so I didn’t want anyone from the footy club thinking I was a loser or that I was as soft.
“I didn’t want to be that big guy that was struggling.”
But now 12 years later, thanks to his mum, Samantha Fitt, the Mental Health Foundation and his mates at the footy club, Rebbeck is slowly returning to his bubbly self.
To help support Rebbeck, Para Hills Football Club is hosting a Breakthrough Community Round to raise awareness and funds for mental health research this Saturday.
Rebbeck said he still had tough days but opening up about has helped him get through.
“During those real bad time, my mum actually hit me up and said ‘you’re not being yourself’ as I was normally a bubbly person.
“She recommended I go speak to someone but I didn’t really want to.
“I eventually went to a doctor and did all the right things, got on a mental health plan and got myself back real good.
“I went back down recently and had another downhill spiral but this time it’s a different route.
“I’ve been talking with (Para Hills chairman) Scott Charlton, I’ve done courses with the Breakthrough Mental Health Foundation and I’ve learnt now I can talk to people about it.
“I’ve been real open with everything this time.”
Para Hills will host Ingle Farm at The Paddocks in the Adelaide Footy League’s division six final minor round this Saturday.
Players will wear special purple and blue socks during their games to support the Breakthrough Mental Health Foundation.
The club will also sell raffle tickets, wine and other commodities on Saturday with all funds raised going to the foundation.
“Footy guys have that big, strong, tough attitude but at the end of the day we are all human and all have our own problems,” Rebbeck said.
“We have to change that stigma that you’re not weak or soft if you have any mental health issues.”