TACKLING THE STIGMA – BRAVE MIND TO TAKE MENTAL HEALTH IN RUGBY HEAD-ON

Simon Trower, the founder of new mental health charity Brave Mind, has personally experienced anxiety and depression from a young age but is now hoping to help those who have been in his position via the power of rugby.

Sadly, problems with mental health are all too common, with the NHS reporting that one in four adults experience at least one diagnosable mental health problem in any given year. It is non-discriminatory, and therefore it is just as likely to affect those in sport too.

“I lived a huge amount of my career thinking I was going to achieve joy through suffering,” Jonny Wilkinson revealed in an interview with The Guardian, “but all I did was create a habit of suffering. I lived for those beautiful moments of being in the zone during the games, and I told myself they were the result of the ridiculous suffering I went through and the sacrifices I made. So I told myself I had to suffer more, because that was the way I was going to get back into the zone.” Mental health affects all athletes, from grassroots through to elite, and Simon is aiming to make people more aware of this.

Starting with a mental health first aid course, Simon was curious to get more information on how we can do more. He later opened up on his LinkedIn in 2020 about his ongoing battle with mental health, and was inundated with support from old teammates, friends, colleagues and his family. He then decided to start a charity with the aim of helping people discuss their mental health through the power of rugby, and it has gone from strength to strength since its fruition: “it’s overwhelming really, and it has just snowballed since September!”

Brave Mind started as a personal journey for Simon, and now a growing number of others as its network expands famously, with players such as Lagi Tuima, Graeme Morrison and Jack Willis supporting the cause. Brave Mind now has a diverse team, dedicated to achieving its mission and scaling at pace. Although he does not consider himself a ‘mental health expert’, he is keen for the charity to take action, raise awareness and offer different avenues for supporting those in rugby and beyond who may be struggling, giving them the courage to seek help – from grass roots juniors to top-flight seniors.

Many may have viewed rugby and mental health as somewhat juxtaposed in the past, with the brutish hypermasculinity of rugby on one side of the spectrum, and vulnerability on the other. However, it is ‘toxic masculinity’ which really impacts young men’s wellbeing Simon believes. Despite their nature being close to superhuman, athletes are also likely to experience some mental health issues – especially if they become injured, hyper-focus on winning, and forget how to enjoy sport’s benefits.

In 2019 a study found that ‘Individual sport athletes are more likely to report anxiety and depression than team sport athletes’, and this is something which Brave Mind are keen to tackle head-on by creating better, safer environments where mental health issues can be discussed as openly as physical health issues which are more accepted in the sport.

The way ‘locker room chat’ and ‘boys will be boys’ attitudes have become normalised in some sports and wider society is one element causing a mental health crisis. For rugby in particular, research has indicated that depression and anxiety are prevalent. Additionally, the Rugby Players’ Association reported in 2018 that 62% of players experienced some kind of mental health problem within two years of retiring.

Brave Mind also recognise that women face cultural challenges in rugby too, and therefore are keen to use the sport to spearhead the de-stigmatisation – “we want to create these communities in clubs to be able to be very open about [mental health] and to support each other so that it becomes the norm”. It is important that we recognise that everyone has mental health. Not speaking up when we feel depressed or uneasy has severely detrimental effects on many and leads to emotional repression, and many more consequential issues Brave Mind warns people. Recognising this, the charity is aiming to show “the positive benefits of connecting with yourself and others”, in an attempt to break down the barriers which can be cultivated but also overcome in sport.

Moving forward, the charity is enthused about its future. Simon is keen to talk to the RFU and other governing bodies in the sport about how we can begin discussions surrounding mental health for a more prosperous sport. “There’s work to be done and we have to keep pushing it” says Simon – people need to know there is light at the end of the tunnel. With understanding, greater connection and community we can support each other within a safe environment.”