Former NRL player Brett Seymour allegedly attempted suicide

A WEEK after Ben Barba was branded "ill" and stood down by Canterbury, controversial halfback Brett Seymour has allegedly attempted suicide.

Brett Seymour

SADLY, Ben Barba now knows he isn't alone.

Only a week after the reigning Dally M medallist was branded "ill" and stood down by Canterbury, controversial Australian halfback Brett Seymour has allegedly attempted suicide in England.

Punted from both Brisbane and Cronulla for ongoing alcohol problems, the Hull playmaker yesterday emerged from hospital unscathed despite flipping his BMW in a collision with two parked cars.

His release also coincided with the funeral of promising Wests Tigers forward Mosese Fotuaika - the 20-year-old who last week took his own life after suffering a season-ending pectoral tear.

While Seymour's car accident was initially thought to be just that, his wife Roseanne took to a fan Facebook page - dubbed Brett Seymour, Get Well Soon - on Wednesday to write: "I'm suffering from severe shock that my husband was so desperate and could attempt such a horrific thing.

"He is getting the help he needs and your support has helped greatly. Depression is a silent killer - I want each and every one of you to know that we feel so grateful to you."

Hull also released a statement yesterday saying that while the playmaker had been released from hospital injury-free "he will be placed on leave with immediate effect".

Friends of Seymour said how the past couple of months have taken an incredible toll on the player, whose poor run of form saw him both dumped from Hull's 19-man squad and cop plenty from irate fans.

Hull coach Peter Gentle was quoted saying that while he'd heard of Roseanne's comments "I'm not here to answer them".

But someone must.

So heavy does the dark cloud of depression now hang in rugby league, Australia's leading organisation for its treatment, beyondblue, is demanding NRL clubs significantly upgrade their approach to mental illness.

"Are we doing enough to fight depression? No we're not," beyondblue CEO Kate Carnell said last night.

"Right now we have a number partnerships in place with teams from both the NRL and AFL - including the Canterbury Bulldogs - but we need to start treating footballers with depression like we would a superstar who physically breaks down.

"If a footballer breaks his leg, every little thing is done to get them better. Same thing if he suffers diabetes, asthma, whatever. We now need to include depression too."

In 2010, retired Rabbitoh Jacin Sinclair and English powerhouse Terry Newton both took their own lives. Last year, Eels players were grieving the loss of strength and conditioning coach Sean Burns while Andrew Johns, Preston Campbell and Own Craigie are others who have battled the 'Black Dog'.

All of which, sadly, sees Canterbury's Barba as anything but an outcast.

If you or someone you know may be at risk, Lifeline can help. Call 13 11 14.