AFL boosts mental health awareness with Lifeline Australia partnership
As a long list of AFL players including Majak Daw, Adam Treloar, Tom Boyd and Dayne Beams battle mental health issues the league has announced a charity partnership to help tackle the issue.
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AFL boss Gillon McLachlan hopes the league’s proactive approach to mental health will encourage Australians to seek help with their own issues as the league announced a charity partnership with Lifeline Australia.
The league’s partnership is part of the league’s bid to help open the conversation about mental health.
North Melbourne player Majak Daw’s mental health battle played out in the most dramatic of circumstances, with a long list of AFL players last year revealing their mental health issues.
Lifeline provides Australians in personal crisis with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services, as one in five people across the country have mental health issues in any given year.
McLachlan said it was a genuine partnership which would help drive support for Lifeline and show the AFL’s determination to help people battling mental health issues.
Only this year Bulldogs premiership hero Tom Boyd walked away from the game in part because of mental health issues, while Dayne Beams, Aaron Hall and Adam Treloar were some of the players who had issues.
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“The mental health and wellbeing of everyone involved in our game is a growing focus for us, and we are proud to partner with Lifeline to encourage Australians, especially young Australians, to stay connected and ask for help if they’re struggling,” McLachlan said.
“Mental health is an issue affecting all workplaces and families. We shouldn’t shy away from it and I encourage anyone who needs support to reach out.
“We are continuing to work as an industry to ensure we have the best processes and mental healthcare in place for our players, coaches and umpires in our elite competition and there is much work to be done.”
As revealed by the Herald Sun, the league announced a new head of mental health and wellbeing, Dr Kate Hall. and Dr Ranjit Menon as the AFL’s Chief Psychiatrist.
Hall said the partnership was more than lip service for the AFL.
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“I would like to acknowledge and thank every Lifeline volunteer who has responded with compassion and respect to anyone who has been in a personal crisis and helped that person and their family through a time of acute distress,” she said.
“Lifeline provides an important support system for Australians living with mental health issues and people affected by significant life stressors, that may leave them feeling overwhelmed or hopeless. Lifeline is available to listen and help when other services are not.
“Our football communities are impacted by mental health and suicide, and the AFL is part of this critical societal issue. Responding to mental health issues and doing more to prevent the onset of mental health issues in young Australians is everyone’s responsibility.”