Boxer Harry Garside reveals in an emotional podcast with Neil Mitchell how he became suicidal

Australian boxing champion Harry Garside has opened up on how being falsely accused of domestic violence led him to make plans to end his life, and what stopped him.

Garside has opened up on his mental health struggle after being faced with false accusations of domestic violence. Picture: Richard Dobson

Australia’s 2024 Olympic boxing gold medal hopeful Harry Garside has revealed he contemplated suicide last year after falsely being accused of domestic violence.

Garside, 27, was arrested at Sydney airport on May 1, 2023, and charged with domestic violence-related common assault. The charges and an apprehended violence order application were formally withdrawn a month later.

But the damage had been done, with the haters on social media going into overdrive as Garside reveals in an emotion-charged podcast with Neil Mitchell.

“To be completely honest I have never contemplated suicide so much in my life. I didn’t want to leave my home, it was just so heavy with media out the front,” Garside said.

False accusations led to Garside contemplating suicide. Picture: Richard Dobson

“I thought about not wanting to be here and then one day it wasn’t just thoughts, it went into action, where I was going to drive my car … it turned out to be Mother’s Day and I thought just how selfish I would be. Mum would have to be reminded for the rest of her life.”

Garside, who won a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, now looks back upon the drama as “almost the best thing to happen to me”.

“It might have been unwanted and unexpected but it helped turn me into a man. And I can look in the mirror and be proud of the man I see.

“I now feel sorry for people who criticise me because it tells me they aren’t free in their own lives. They feel they can’t project themselves in some way, being just too scared to explore their callings.

Garside in action against Cuba’s Andy Cruz at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Picture: Adam Head

“It makes me very proud that I have continued to achieve my goals, even if there are still some scars. For instance I haven’t started dating again.”

Garside is a fervent believer that combat sport can genuinely help society and should be taught at all schools. He sees respect, courage and structure as being benefits of learning some form of self-defence.

“I’m not saying every kid should learn how to box, but something such as wrestling or Jujutsu can be of so much benefit. I have a view we are all animals trying to act civilised and part of that is trying to feel more secure in your own skin.”

Originally published as Boxer Harry Garside reveals in an emotional podcast with Neil Mitchell how he became suicidal