Sportsmen & women key roles in mental health

Sportsmen and women have a distinctive role to play in helping people with mood disorders.

This was the message given in an address to ex-Wallabies and Members by Professor Gordon Parker, Executive Director of the Black Dog Institute, at Tattersalls Club on 1 May.

Professor Parker talked about the work of the Institute which is a not-for-profit educational, research, clinical and community- orientated facility offering specialist expertise for those with depressive and bipolar disorders.

He overviewed the impact of destigmatisation on assiting people with mood disorders and the fact that there had been a drop in young men committing suicide in Australia. Professor Parker noted the destimatizing impact of sportspeople talking about their mood disorders (making reference to several Rugby Union identities) and encouraged the influential attendees to further advance destigmatisation. 

Refer to this link to view all event details and photo