Simon Hogan admits he considered suicide during his battle with depression.

scottwade · Dec 7, 2011

http://au.sports.yahoo.com/news/article/-/12262540/hogans-depression-battle/

Geelong footballer Simon Hogan has detailed his battle with depression, revealing he spent three weeks in hospital dealing with mental health issues earlier this year.

Hogan was given time off by the club earlier this year to address his depression, which he told 3AW had led to him considering suicide during his darkest days.

"I was pretty close to thinking that I couldn't get any help and that I wasn't going to come out of it. I definitely was quite suicidal and had a few days where my Mum or my Dad had to take days off work to ensure they were around me because I almost couldn't trust myself."

(Hogan) was speaking out as part of his role as an ambassador for mental heath body Headspace. He urged young people who are battling depression to seek help.

Kudos to the guy, for being so open & honest.

And hopefully the next time a club gives a player time off to deal with 'homesickness' & 'personal issues', BF posters remember this article and don't immediately decide to label the player weak. or look for some ulterior motive for his absence.

mollyfud · Dec 7, 2011

Great call! The interview he did with Neil is on the 3aw website. Worth a listen!

I might be a bit sensitive but I was a bit annoy at the HUN for using that as the headline! Would have rathered the more positive side of the story. I guess that doesn't get as many hits!
JTMC

UpTheGuts · Dec 7, 2011

Every best wish to him. Hopefully an illness cured, or at the least managed forever

Gus · Dec 7, 2011

scottwade said:
And hopefully the next time a club gives a player time off to deal with 'homesickness' & 'personal issues', BF posters remember this article and don't immediately decide to label the player weak. or look for some ulterior motive for his absence.

I know you are referring to me here. Do you think that maybe I didn't immediately label anyone anything? I'm a journalist, I did my research.

Hopefully Hogan coming out paves the way for greater awareness for people who really have problems. Anyone can be affected, you'd think a 21 year old, fit kid playing his favourite sport for a living would be living the dream. Alas not.

UpTheGuts · Dec 7, 2011

scottwade said:
http://au.sports.yahoo.com/news/article/-/12262540/hogans-depression-battle/

And hopefully the next time a club gives a player time off to deal with 'homesickness' & 'personal issues', BF posters remember this article and don't immediately decide to label the player weak. or look for some ulterior motive for his absence.

Well said.

Some of the remarks regarding Dan Connors the other day, from a few predictable mostly Essendon posters, were - even in jest - outrageous and just pathetic

The Black Dog can descend without rhyme or reason. Hopefully the comments to which I refer were from those who are just ignorant, rather than dismissive

Really like Hogan as a player. Hope he goes well

Mitchell Madness · Dec 7, 2011

Good on the kid, however, remember, he told the club about his battle.

We cant say the club "gave him time off" as it wouldnt have happened without his courage to approach his employer

MaddAdam · Dec 7, 2011

Gus said:
Do you think that maybe I didn't immediately label anyone anything? I'm a journalist, I did my research.
.

Awwww, they're so cute when they're young.

master bate · Dec 7, 2011

He's fit, healthy, got money he's got a heap of reasons not to get depression but still has. Sure he probably has to get a battle for a game in the AFL which must be a bit frustrating but I'm sure a lot of 23 year olds on here would swap lifes any day of the week.

With quite a few cases of mental health problems racking up now I hope the AFL/clubs look at not only what they can do for everyone else (Kennett, Thompson, Hogan et al have been fantastic at spreading the message) but what they can do for themselves. However the message they are spreading is very good, if guys with all this good in their life can have troubles then it sure can explain why regular people do.

UpTheGuts · Dec 7, 2011

Mitchell Madness said:
Good on the kid, however, remember, he told the club about his battle.

We cant say the club "gave him time off" as it wouldnt have happened without his courage to approach his employer

Yes. To put up his hand, especially when the team was flying, would have been bloody hard.

Often by the time others are informed or suspect, it is too late

Geelong has really excelled off field in recent times.

I have known the President for many many years and rate him highly, but clearly it is more than any individual down there

UpTheGuts · Dec 7, 2011

master bate said:
He's fit, healthy, got money he's got a heap of reasons not to get depression but still has. Sure he probably has to get a battle for a game in the AFL which must be a bit frustrating but I'm sure a lot of 23 year olds on here would swap lifes any day of the week.

With quite a few cases of mental health problems racking up now I hope the AFL/clubs look at not only what they can do for everyone else (Kennett, Thompson, Hogan et al have been fantastic at spreading the message) but what they can do for themselves. However the message they are spreading is very good, if guys with all this good in their life can have troubles then it sure can explain why regular people do.

Such a great post.

1 in 5

Upgrayedd · Dec 7, 2011

master bate said:
He's fit, healthy, got money he's got a heap of reasons not to get depression but still has. Sure he probably has to get a battle for a game in the AFL which must be a bit frustrating but I'm sure a lot of 23 year olds on here would swap lifes any day of the week.

telsor · Dec 7, 2011

master bate said:
He's fit, healthy, got money he's got a heap of reasons not to get depression but still has. Sure he probably has to get a battle for a game in the AFL which must be a bit frustrating but I'm sure a lot of 23 year olds on here would swap lifes any day of the week.

With quite a few cases of mental health problems racking up now I hope the AFL/clubs look at not only what they can do for everyone else (Kennett, Thompson, Hogan et al have been fantastic at spreading the message) but what they can do for themselves. However the message they are spreading is very good, if guys with all this good in their life can have troubles then it sure can explain why regular people do.

There is depression and depression.

One thing it's not is 'just' being a bit sad.

Firstly, it can be a medical condition, where your brain chemicals just "don't work right". Feel free to google 'seratonin reuptake' for more info on that.

Secondly, there are the psychological issues which have a major, ongoing effect on your outlook.

The two have a definite correlation, and it has nothing to do with having what 'most people' would consider a good life.

_Christoh_ · Dec 7, 2011

Whether he makes it as a regular AFL player or not Simon Hogan is already a champion in my eyes for coming out and telling his story. Not easy to do when your supposed to be bullet proof.

Will keep a keen eye on his career from now on.

Hollow Knight · Dec 7, 2011

delirious1 said:

You quoted the first part of his post and deleted the second part which provided the context (i.e. that depression can strike anyone regardless of the current circumstances in their life).

You are eye-rolling at a point he wasn't making.

Natho · Dec 7, 2011

Very courageous by him. Respect him for being so open. I hope he now turns his life around and firstly gets healthy (which is his main priority) then get stuck into his footy and have a successful career.

Silent Alarm · Dec 8, 2011

An extremely hard thing to come out and discuss. The idea of telling your parents or girlfriend of your feelings can be intimidating enough. How do you tell a successful footy club in a competition hawk-eyed by the media? A positive show of character.

Coming from the Depression thread in the Lifestyle section, and reading recent outpourings, this definitely hits just as heavy. Seriously, best of luck.

David the Cat · Dec 8, 2011

telsor said:
There is depression and depression.

One thing it's not is 'just' being a bit sad.

Firstly, it can be a medical condition, where your brain chemicals just "don't work right". Feel free to google 'seratonin reuptake' for more info on that.

Secondly, there are the psychological issues which have a major, ongoing effect on your outlook.

The two have a definite correlation, and it has nothing to do with having what 'most people' would consider a good life.

Thank you for a top drawer post. Some people think depression is just feeling down for a while...it goes so much deeper and is not always evident to those around him/her.

Gary Speed (RIP) is unfortunately a classic example.

LifeSpan-Void · Dec 8, 2011

Gus said:
I'm a journalist, I did my research.

but...

Gus said:
a 21 year old

He's 23.

Gus · Dec 8, 2011

LifeSpan-Void said:
but...

He's 23.

Well I didn't research that, but I was close . But I know the OP was having a dig at me over something that I didn't just guess.

Apollo2011 · Dec 8, 2011

Good on him, all luck to the kid for the future.

Hollow Knight · Dec 8, 2011

Just an ignorant post gaelictiogar.

A person can't just wish their mental illness away. You may as well abuse someone having a heart attack. "Stop this heart attack stuff mate... you're upsetting your family".

As for the suggestion that society "celebrates" people with depression... ugh...

LosBeatles · Dec 8, 2011

the gary speed suicide is one of the most baffling things to happen for ages

Cynic · Dec 8, 2011

Tassieboy said:
Such an ignorant post. I have two people close to me with depression and it makes me so angry when I hear things like this.

I freely admit I don't understand depression, most likely because I haven't fully accepted that it is as much a mental disorder as it is just being 'sad'.

I, and I doubt I'm on my own, can't grasp how a young bloke with the world ahead of him, playing AFL on excellent wages, can be depressed...

That said I think this is more a reflection of my lack of understanding on the matter rather than reality, and hope I see more on what the problem is in the future rather than just advertisers letting me know it's out there.

TheOz · Dec 8, 2011

I hope Simon gets the help he needs. Blokes like Nathan Thompson who first broke the taboo of speaking out about mental illness deserve all the credit for allowing these young players to continue to bring attention the plight of those that suffer mental illness.
People who joke about mental illness/depression etc. like that piece of human excrement Wayne Carey did about the time Thompson first gave attention to the issue are at best ignorant and at worst malicious thugs. gaelictiogar and the like should educate themselves about mental illness before spouting off garbage. It is a disease, like cancer, it might not malignantly spread physically within the body but mentally it utterly destroys and decimates its victim as cancer does physically.

Hollow Knight · Dec 8, 2011

TheOz said:
I hope Simon gets the help he needs. Blokes like Nathan Thompson who first broke the taboo of speaking out about mental illness deserve all the credit for allowing these young players to continue to bring attention to the plight of those that suffer mental illness.
People who joke about mental illness/depression etc. like that piece of human excrement Wayne Carey did about the time Thompson first gave attention to the issue are at best ignorant and at worst malicious thugs. gaelictiogar and the like should educate themselves about mental illness before spouting off garbage. It is a disease, like cancer, it might not malignantly spread within the body but mentally it utterly destroys and decimates its victim as cancer does physically.

Yeah. This.

In my case it eventually just went away. For other people it is nowhere near so easily dealt with. People who haven't experienced it just won't understand. In retrospect it all seems so irrational and unexplainable, but when you are feeling it, it is utterly dominating. The sheer hopelessness of it all is utterly overwhelming and affects your brain function at a level that supersedes rationality. You can't just switch it off. It rarely strikes on its own either, it can be accompanied by anxiety, OCD or other disorders. The feedback loops can be frightening. In my case anxiety was the kicker.

Stress > anxiety > depression > sleeplessness > exhaustion > inability to function > greater stress > greater anxiety > greater depression... Rinse repeat

By finding mental strategies to stop the anxiety I was able to break the cycle. Others are not nearly so lucky. I feel so sorry for them.

Like Hogan, mine kicked in at a time when everything in my life was going great. Had just finished uni, landed a good, competitively sought after graduate job, money to burn, moved out with my girlfriend etc... no rhyme or reason to it.

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