june/july 2015 // NZ RUGBY WORLD //
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anxiety, depression and psychosis four of the
most diagnosed.
They were also at pains to emphasise the
benefits of mental wellbeing, with a strong focus
on a balanced life as one of the most effective
coping mechanisms for dealing with stress.
Everyone has stress in their lives, they said, and
rugby players with selection, injury and off-field
pressures were no exception.
Building resilience was important, as was
recognising the line when everyday stresses
blurred into the first signs of mental illness.
Simple ways for building that resilience include
getting enough exercise, adequate sleep and good
nutrition, as well as having support from family
and friends and spiritual support.. which Bidois
called “stoking that inner flame”, for those without
religious beliefs.
Ministry of Health figures show that 47 per cent
of New Zealanders will experience a mental illness
at some stage of their lives, broadly affecting all
parts of society.
Course attendee Nathan Price, the education
manager at New Zealand Rugby, said it was part of
rugby’s duty of care to take mental health just as
seriously as physical issues like concussion.
“Mental illness is prevalent in our society and
it is an issue that the PDMs are going to deal with
more often than a lot of us would like to think,”
Price said.
“To give
these guys
the skills, the
tools and the
strategies to
help recognise,
relate and
respond is
going to help our players become better people,
better players and they’ll be able to operate more
successfully in their environment.”
With a captive audience and a certain amount of
influence through playing contracts, New Zealand
Rugby was also keen to use players to raise
awareness throughout society, Price added.
“Anything that can reduce the taboo of it and
the stigma, especially for young men, will be vitally
important and rugby in New Zealand is in a really
good position to provide some awareness and
resources.”
The PDMs, meanwhile, are likely to be one of the
frontline tools for promoting that awareness and
helping players in need.
“It’s given us an ability to put mental health and
illness in the context of our professional practice
and look at ways to support players dealing with
players in a much more holistic and positive way,”
Blues PDM Victoria Hood said.
“Mental illness is prevalent in
our society and it is an issue that
the PDMs are going to deal with
more often than a lot of us would
like to think,”
NATHAN PRICE
