Helping remove the stigma surrounding mental issues

Singapore

ANXIETY and depression have often been cast in a negative light and many who suffer from them view it as a stigma.

These are thoughts not lost on New Zealand All Black and rugby union legend John Kirwan, who is no stranger to facing mental health issues, himself.

Mr Kirwan, who is known as a member of the All Blacks side that won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987 and went undefeated for four years, was one of the first athletes to open up about his struggles with anxiety and depression in the early 2000s.

He has since written two books on his experiences and been knighted for his contributions to the topic.

Meshing his two interests, Mr Kirwan has joined forces with insurer Cigna to raise awareness on the importance of mental well-being at this weekend's World Rugby Sevens tournament in Hong Kong.

There, he will be relating his personal experiences to Rugby fans at a wellness summit organised by Cigna, one of the Hong Kong Sevens's sponsors.

The summit is part of a larger campaign at the tournament by the insurer called "Converting Hearts & Minds", which aims to promote taking care of both one's mental and physical well-being.

The campaign will engage those attending the tournament through live consumer events, in-stadium activation, as well as through digital and social media.

Mr Kirwan tells The Business Times that he is encouraged by Cigna's efforts to engage tournament goers.

Reflecting on the times when he faced depression, he noted that he did not have the tools to cope with his anxiety and also viewed it as mental weakness. But his own experiences set in motion a desire to help others and erase the stigma that people who face mental health issues might have.

He started The John Kirwan Foundation to support young New Zealanders to reduce the negative impact that unidentified and unsupported mental health issues may have on them.

The foundation provides youth with the information and skills to better recognise and understand their personal mental health and help their peers.

The same set of skills can be applied to adults, Mr Kirwan said. "Jobs have become more stressful and people have less opportunities to disconnect and unwind from work due to the evergrowing digital world we live in.

"It is most important to start by creating a plan for ourselves so that we can start being energised on a daily basis," he added.

A daily plan can consist of activities that keep the mind active but relaxed.

Mr Kirwan keeps to a daily plan that includes reading, cooking and swimming as well as having breathing exercises.

While encouraged by the growing awareness about mental health issues and efforts to provide more help for people, Mr Kirwan still feels that more needs to be done.

"We have to keep talking about it so that mental and physical health are talked about in the same light."