Both highly misunderstood disorders, mental health can be linked in many different ways.
Firstly, addiction itself is considered to be a mental health issue, meaning that any individual struggling with addiction has a mental health issue, but not all those struggling with mental health are necessarily struggling with an addiction.
Mental health covers many different unique conditions and issues – many of which are also highly misunderstood and not heavily researched, even in the modern world.
This article will focus on the risks that individuals within the rugby community may face, including those which may make mental health issues, including addiction, potentially more prevalent in some situations.
In the UK specifically, a study was conducted that showed that individuals within the Super League of the rugby community were more likely to display symptoms for mild depression and mild anxiety (1), adding to the risks that may develop as a result of this.
Dual diagnosis
In the field of addiction, it is known that other mental health issues are likely to co-occur.
Often requiring a local alcohol rehab or alcohol detox in the West Midlands (in the case of alcohol addictions), co-occurring disorders can cause additional issues within an individual’s later treatment programme if they are not properly paid attention to.
Therefore, a dual diagnosis approach is essential. This is when all mental health issues are recognised and treated during an individual’s detox or rehabilitation process.
Without proper attentiveness to additional mental health issues (in addition to the addiction itself), the individual is far more likely to require additional time and effort within the rehabilitation process.
How addiction can impact an individual
If an individual finds themselves to be struggling with an addiction, whether this is within the rugby community or not, then this can have serious and long-lasting consequences if the proper care is not sought within an appropriate time period.
As well as the risk to an individual’s physical health (which will differ depending on the substance that the individual is addicted to and the history of this), mental health makes up a large proportion of the difficulties that an individual may struggle with as a result of addiction.
This can seriously impact how an individual goes about their day to day life, how they are able to manage and process their emotions and feelings, as well as their physical ability to partake in responsibilities such as school, their career, and/or care of themselves and their family.
Mental health pressures in the rugby community
Specifically, within the rugby community, some individuals may be at more risk than other demographics depending on the pressures and stresses that these individuals may be subject to.
For example, especially higher up in the leagues and the stakes of the game, individuals may feel huge amount of pressure to perform, to do well, and to motivate themselves and those around them.
This pressure can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety about doing well, depression when they may not perform as well as they expect themselves to, and serious mood swings and other mental health issues in a number of other specific rugby-based situations.
Addiction struggles in the rugby community
Building on the points mentioned above, individuals in the rugby community who feel this pressure as a result of their career and game records may turn to other coping mechanisms, including the use of substances.
In some instances, substances can serve as a way of coping with these stresses, meaning that some individuals may begin to consume substances such as alcohol, cocaine, opioids, or performance-enhancing substances in order to manage their mental wellbeing.
Though these substances can provide short-term relief in terms of the sensations and effects that they can cause, the long-term effects are often far more dangerous.
However, when an individual is addicted, they often ignore the negative consequences and experiences that arise from their substance abuse in favour of the short-term benefits.
How can we help individuals struggling with mental health and/or addiction?
For those struggling with mental health and addiction, whether within the rugby community or elsewhere, there is support available from many different sources.
Within the rugby community particularly, however, there are endless sources of support that are becoming more and more common in the modern world.
Aside from the individual’s specific team, clubhouse, or training team, there are many external and independent sources of support that individuals can turn to if they want a more confidential approach.
The remaining subheadings outline some additional ways in which individuals in rugby communities can support those around them in terms of mental health and addiction.
1. Open door policies
As a manager, team captain, or other higher position within a rugby community, there is often a responsibility to provide care and support for your team, no matter the circumstances.
For these individuals, it is often encouraged to have open door policies, not necessarily denoting the physical openness of their office or management space, but more the ability to be approached about a number of different issues.
In some cases, the hiring of an occupational therapist or sports mental health therapist may be required as the managers and higher authorities are also at risk of struggling with mental health and addiction – also requiring and deserving of relief.
2. Normalising conversations
Similar to the point mentioned above, mental health and addiction should be drawn more attention to, rather than stigmatising the topic or making individuals feel ashamed with unsuitable or distasteful jokes, for example.
This means bringing up the conversation more frequently, as well as making the conversation more casual, making it easier for individuals to come forward and speak about their situation, should they have the need to.
3. Unconditional support
In all instances, individuals struggling with mental health and/or addiction deserve the care and support of others. These are not conditions that individuals choose to struggle with, therefore requiring confidentiality, grace, and a non-judgemental approach.
Addiction, specifically, is a non-discriminatory disorder and can therefore affect any individual.
This means that those who struggle with these issues should not be subject to taboo or judgement and should instead be offered support and access to further care, no matter their situation.
Getting further help and support for mental health and addiction through rugby communities and more
In many cases, the first step to getting further support for mental health and addiction often starts with a conversation. Whether this is admitting to their issues to a close friend or family member or getting in contact with their local health services and/or addiction referral support, help is available across the UK.
To start your recovery journey today, or to get more information on any of the topics mentioned across this article, individuals should speak to a medical professional or addiction specialist about their options as soon as they are able.
No matter is too serious to start seeking help as soon as today, so get in contact with the appropriate local services as soon as one is able to get the most suitable and appropriate care for the individual’s specific needs.
References
[1] Nicholls, A.R., Madigan, D.J., Fairs, L.R. and Bailey, R., 2020. Mental health and psychological well-being among professional rugby league players from the UK. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 6(1).
By Jack Harris
