Toast Heath blacks honesty

[Mad props Freo]

Heath Black's honesty

Just saw on the footy show Heath Black admit his very hard fight with depression. Very honest interview and hope he is on the right paths.


For information on men's depression please visit www.beyondblue.com.au

 

[neishah]

Re: Heath Black's honesty

you mean The Footy Show with Sammy? It hasn't started in Perth yet, do you mean it is actually worth watching this week?

 

[dominguez]

Thanks for the heads up MPF, the show is starting here now so I'll stay up.

 

[Chops_a_must]

I've sent a text wishing him well.

 

[Mad props Freo]

Re: Heath Black's honesty

Absolutely...with Sammy Newman....Channel 9 Footy Show

By absolutely I actually mean the segment about Heath yes, the rest is comparable to eating a block of concrete.

 

[Freodoc]

Saw a little of his interview on ACA or Today Tonight... very candid and honest. He has written a book regarding his struggle with mental health issues, I believe it's called "Black".

Looks healthy now, good to see. Always liked Blacky and his raking left boot..

 

[shibz_1989]

Sigh was going to go to bed, have decided I will watch it just for the interview. I am so glad he has come out. In case none of you saw, I posted a link a few weeks back about the increasing number of footy players seeking psychological help. My point was it doesn't matter who you are, what you do or how much money you earn - mental illness can strike at any time.

Unfortunately, a few responses were "harden up" and "get over it". Sadly, it is not that easy (if only it was). I think people would be surprised about how many people are silently battling depression, bipolar and the like. More and more people are coming out and speaking out about it - having been battling it for the past few years, it's made me want to become a mental health nurse and help people like myself and Heath Black.

 

[neishah]

I always loved Heath, good footy player for us as well as being absolutely gorgeous!! Thanks for the heads up!

 

[im_a_lazy_sod]

I would have also accepted "Black and Blue" as the title

Good on him for his honesty - always liked him as a player, but seemed a bit of a douche off the field, but dealing with depression (even mildly) is bloody tough - you can never go it alone

Onya heath

 

[shibz_1989]

He looks fantastic now! Even has a sparkle in his eye

It's kind of comforting to hear someone as fit and strong as him has difficulties with binging as a means for comforting. (Sorry if that sounds weird)

 

[Memories]

Donno. Can anyone claim depression as a reason for doing things they later regret?

Most of the things he talked about seemed to be more related to an alcohol/drug problem. Watch someone not on drugs/alcohol do those things he said and then I'll be the first to say "yeah he has a problem".

I'd be depressed too if I lost everything in my life due to my drug/alcohol problems. Just weird how everyone immediately defends anyone with such a "problem" when the only evidence they put forward is their own flawed word. Good luck to him anyhow.

 

[neishah]

now we know why he was a douche off the field. Very good interview, hope he will be o.k. and glad he got help before something really drastic happened. Wonders who the "two other players" he confided in about his depression were? This is the biggest disease in the world, why is everyone still ashamed to admit to suffering from it?

 

[shibz_1989]

Neishaj, the thing with depression is that people think it's all in your head. Yeah, it may be...but the brain can be a nasty piece of work. I think some people view it as a weakness.

 

[neishah]

Memories.............. people who suffer depression "use drugs and alcohol" to self medicate, it makes them feel better for a short time, it helps them forget what is troubling them, hence the addictions that accompany depression.

 

[shibz_1989]

Donno. Can anyone claim depression as a reason for doing things they later regret?

Most of the things he talked about seemed to be more related to an alcohol/drug problem. Watch someone not on drugs/alcohol do those things he said and then I'll be the first to say "yeah he has a problem".

I'd be depressed too if I lost everything in my life due to my drug/alcohol problems. Just weird how everyone immediately defends anyone with such a "problem" when the only evidence they put forward is their own flawed word. Good luck to him anyhow.

Um yes, yes they can. I've had a few incidents in my life where I was lucky to not have my head knocked off or arrested due to having major meltdowns. I wouldn't say I regret them...definitely learned from them.

And I think (from what he was saying) Heath used alcohol as a way to cope with depression, more or less resulting in his problems with alcohol.

The problem with our mental health system is that there is a high number of people who have both an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol as well as a mental illness. If they go to a mental health clinic, they are unable to get help because they have a drug/alcohol problem. If they go to rehab, they are unable to seek help there because they have a mental illness. Sadly, these people fall through the cracks.

 

[neishah]

shibz, I also suffer from depression, though not to that extent, I still work, lead a good social life etc, however I have very black periods every month or so, when I just hibernate for my own and others good.

 

[shibz_1989]

shibz, I also suffer from depression, though not to that extent, I still work, lead a good social life etc, however I have very black periods every month or so, when I just hibernate for my own and others good.

Yeah, same here. Went through a stage earlier this year were I almost ended up in hospital that's how bad it got and was unable to work - my boss rang me and demanded to know what was going on. When I told her, her response was "Well, I have a business to run".

 

[Chops_a_must]

You know my history Shibz, but I don't think any level of depression excuses violence or violent people.

 

[shibz_1989]

No, it doesn't, but it is something that can result in violence/violent people. Sometimes people lose control...

 

[Sigwald]

Donno. Can anyone claim depression as a reason for doing things they later regret?

I'd be depressed too if I lost everything in my life due to my drug/alcohol problems. Just weird how everyone immediately defends anyone with such a "problem" when the only evidence they put forward is their own flawed word.

Sounds like you've been lucky enough not to have suffered from depression, Memories In my experience, it's something I did not truly understand until it was me. Another thing I noticed (re: to the last alinea) is that there's hardly ever a specific thing that triggers dark periods.

Set backs make me sad, angry, frustrated, and the likes. For me depression is different, less tangible.

 

[docker_champ29]

Did everybody see how quickly they went through the derby on TFS? Ridiculous.

 

[Chops_a_must]

No, it doesn't, but it is something that can result in violence/violent people. Sometimes people lose control...

I don't agree.

Depression is being used enough as a catch all excuse or to describe normal sadness in a person's life, it doesn't need to be brought in to make an excuse for something more pathological.

 

[neishah]

you will find that the majority of people who commit crime or have an addiction, also suffer from depression, mostly undiagnosed, however the Mental Health System is totally useless due to budgets and cutbacks, so there are a lot of people walking around, who need help and medication, but are not getting it or the support they need. I work in the welfare system and see it every day

 

[Memories]

Martin Bryant was also depressed leading up to Port Arthur. His father had killed himself, he had no friends, no one wanted to talk to him.......

 

[neishah]

docker champ, hence I barely watch anymore, I hear from other Freo members/supporters that they still leave Freo game (regardless of who they are playing against) for the last, and even then, just skim over it. Last time I watched, they called Hayden "Dale", total fu**ing idiots they are.