Hawthorn AFC fighting men’s mental health through Thick and Thin

By Nick Armistead

Football clubs are families. They are alternate sets of brothers, sisters and parents, all of whom are capable of providing guidance, mateship and a sense of belonging to each of its members.

Tragically, Hawthorn Amateur Football Club’s family has suffered the loss of three members in horrifying circumstances over the past 10 years. Between 2005 and 2009, two former players and a former players’ father took their own lives after losing their individual battles with depression.

Left with more questions than answers, the club decided to take a stand and focus its attention on establishing measures to address the mental health concerns which had already plagued three of its members.

“It prompted us to do something to raise awareness in our club and in our community, to help prevent any further tragedy,” Hawthorn AFC President Patrick Clancey says.

Over the past six years, the clubs’ goal has been clear; to create an educated and comfortable environment in a bid to encourage all who may be struggling with their own personal demons to seek help.

Their unwavering commitment to the cause has been showcased via the organisation of various VIP mental health breakfasts and lunches, where special guest speakers such as Jeff Kennett, Ted Baillieu, Campbell Brown, Ken Hunter and Simon Hogan have spoken candidly about their experiences and involvement with men’s mental health.

Hogan, who spoke at last Thursday’s mental health breakfast, says the club is at the forefront of mental health awareness among all community football clubs.

“They’ve been probably the most proactive club I’ve come across in terms of mental health awareness,” Hogan says.

“They’ve got their own mental health game where they wear a special jumper honouring a couple of past players who passed away. That’s the sort of event that Thick and Thin wants to hopefully run as well to get key people involved, get the discussion going and ideally get the discussion going amongst teammates around what you can do to support each other and how you can help each other through a rough time.”

On the same day as this year’s highly successful breakfast, the club sought out the educational expertise of an Active Minds information session with Headspace Hawthorn, of which 60 players and numerous officials, including Clancey, attended.

“The club has also had four members recently complete the Active Minds All Play training, along with representatives from Swinburne AFC, Old Trinity and Kew AFC,” Clancey says.

“As a result of this training, we have appointed four mental health ambassadors that anyone from the club can talk to if they are struggling. These ambassadors have completed the training and are well equipped to point people in the right direction to get help.”

In a room filled with more than 70 people, the deep-seated respect and undivided attention awarded each guest speaker illustrated how each member of Hawthorn’s family felt about the initiative and what the club is attempting to achieve.

From hosting their annual mental health awareness match against Glen Eira last Saturday to joining with a further 35 VAFA clubs in support of this week’s Thick and Thin Round, Hawthorn AFC is leading fearlessly from the front in the race to raise awareness and subsequently reduce the stigma surrounding men’s mental health issues.