HAWTHORN OFFER LOUD VOICE ON MENTAL HEALTH

Hawthorn Amateur Football Club have been touched by the tragedy of losing players to suicide. It is an issue that is often hidden from public discussion and by hosting an awareness breakfast as the club did this week, they hope it that an increased public profile of mental health issues will prevent both Hawthorn Amateurs and any one else from living through the tragedy of such a loss. 
The focus to increase awareness about mental health and to educate our community is one of the main reasons that the VAFA partnered with the charity and awareness group One in Five. 
Former North Melbourne and Sydney star Wayne Schwass was the guest speaker at the breakfast. Wayne publicly announced in 2006 that he had suffered depression through much of his AFL career and setup the Sunrise Foundation to help others with mental health issues. 
In recent times, the issue of mental health is being spoken about in the wider community with more care and compassion. It is initiatives like the breakfast that Hawthorn Amateur Football Club arranged this week that only help to broaden the education and understanding of how our community can help those in need of assistance.  
VAFA TV took our camera along to the breakfast to capture the morning. We would encourage everyone to watch and listen to what Wayne has to say about his own story and watch the advice given on how we all can play a part in helping those that are suffering quietly.