Our 'manliest men' are letting their vulnerabilities show

Australia's top sportsman have made it their mission to put an end to mental illness.

Australia's top sportsman have made it their mission to put an end to mental illness.

Australia’s most elite sportsmen are sounding the alarm on mental illness, as the country’s “manliest men” move to ease the stigma around seeking professional help.

Cronulla Sharks NRL player Nicho Hynes, recipient of the all-coveted Dally M medal on Wednesday night, used his acceptance speech to encourage young men to “speak up” when suffering, and check in on their mates. 

“People commit suicide too much these days and if I can play an important role in trying to change that, and get people to speak up, I‘m going to raise more awareness of that,” he said from the stage. 

The halfback also claimed the Provan Summons Medal for sportsmanship for delivering a moving post-game interview, honouring  former Brisbane Broncos coach Paul Green who committed suicide in early August.

“Can I just give a quick shout out to Paul Green’s family. All of us here at the Sharks are thinking of you,” Hynes said at the time.

“We need to think about it a bit more and spread the message of mental health. It’s such an important thing at the moment.”

NRL boss Andrew Adno told The Oz Nicho was a “great role model” for the game’s fans, and mental health awareness was a key priority for the league. 

“We want to make a difference,” he said. “There’s pressure on all of us. Life is hard. It’s filled with struggles, and the only way we’re going to change the conversation is by speaking up about it ourselves.”

Hynes isn’t the first professional sportsman to draw attention to the crippling effects of mental illness.

Tennis superstar Nick Kyrgios in February took to Instagram in February to reveal extraordinary details about one of the “darkest” parts of his life, when he battled suicidal thoughts, depression, alcohol and drug abuse, and encourage others to “turn their lives around”.

Carlton AFL player Patrick Cripps, who is studying a post-grad degree in psychology, has very publicly supported his partner Monique Fontana in her mental health journey, and assisted in spreading awareness.

University of Sydney professor and Australian Mental Health Think Tank chair, Maree Teesson, told The Oz professional sportsman drawing attention to their own struggles was “invaluable” in changing the conversation around mental health. 

“Three in four Australian suicides occur in men, and we still see 3000 suicides a year,” she said. “Our perception of these most manly men is that they have to be stoic in the face of challenges and not show emotion. But what people like Hynes and Kyrgios are doing is breaking down the stigma around what masculinity is.”

About 40% of Australians aged 16-25 have experienced an anxiety disorder or a substance abuse disorder in the past year, according to the 2022 Census results.

Teesson said there was “still work to be done” in encouraging young people to seek help, but people with large platforms showing their vulnerabilities is “critical” to easing the shame surrounding mental illness.

“The tide is turning through the bravery of individuals, and that allows people who are maybe not as well known or who maybe don’t have as much support to feel comfortable to speak out too,” she said.