Greg Inglis shares his mental health struggles ahead of NSW male suicide forum

He battled plenty of formidable opponents on the footy field, but the South Sydney legend has opened up about tackling an even bigger challenge.

Former NRL superstar Greg Inglis has opened up about his own mental health battles ahead of attending a landmark forum at NSW Parliament aimed at cutting soaring rates of male suicide, revealing he sought psychiatric treatment just two months ago.

The South Sydney legend will be one of the keynote speakers at the inaugural Men’s Mental Health Forum on Monday, which will aim to tackle NSW’s soaring suicide rates which resulted in two men a day taking their own lives in 2023.

Along with former Australian cricketer and Married At First Sight star Cam Merchant, Inglis will address the forum which will bring together mental health advocates, experts and those with a lived experience, to work out new tactics to drive down suicide rates.

It was only two months ago the South Sydney legend sought out psychiatric treatment himself, telling The Daily Telegraph he still managed daily his diagnosis of Bipolar II, depression and anxiety.

“I was going through some stuff, two months ago now. It was hard,” he said.

Souths legend Greg Inglis has opened up about his recent struggle with mental health. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

“I just wasn’t motivated – don’t get me wrong, I love my life and what I’m doing now – but I’m always going to have these struggles. I just couldn’t put my finger on it – so I went and had three sessions with my psychiatrist, and that put me back on track.”

Inglis, who founded and directs the Goanna Academy which is dedicated to improving mental health among youth, adults, and Indigenous communities, said key to addressing suicide rates was breaking down the stigma of talking.

“Males are stubborn … we think we can’t be broken. We think we need to be caretakers, be warriors, not show emotion (or) any signs of weakness. But we’re losing too many males. Great fathers, great uncles, sons – these are the people we’re losing,” Inglis, who was invited to the forum by Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson, said.

Inglis now works to help others with their mental health. Picture: Tim Hunter

“For a kids from Macksville, I never thought I’d be sitting having chats with ministers … it’s been crazy,” he said.

The forum will include discussions on men’s mental health and suicide prevention, and share knowledge, ideas, and strategies to guide future prevention initiatives targeting men.

NSW accounts for the most male deaths by suicide in Australia, with men making up 78 per cent of the 934 suspected deaths by suicide recorded in the state in 2023.

Greg Inglis playing for the Rabbitohs in 2018. Picture: AAP Image/Craig Golding

Ms Jackson, who will lead the event, said the forum is “an important step along the journey to addressing male suicide and mental ill health”.

“Ensuring people who are experiencing mental health distress have access to services when they need them most is a priority for the NSW Government. Despite high levels of need for men, we know it can be especially difficult for them to ask for help when they need it,” she said.

The forum will be held in partnership with the Movember Institute of Men’s Health, with the institute’s Dr Zac Seidler facilitating it.