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Thursday May 24, 2012

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Simon Hogan faces his demons

Posted by: 3AW Radio | 7 December, 2011 - 9:02 AM
Simon Hogan shares his depression battle

Geelong player and headspace ambassador Simon Hogan is sharing his story of seeking help for depression in a bid to help others.

On Wednesday, Hogan told Neil Mitchell about his battle which included being hospitalised for three weeks during the Cats' 2011 premiership season.

He has seen no fewer than five psychologists in the past three years and paid tribute to his family, the Geelong Football Club and the playing group which has given him outstanding support during his struggle.

*Scroll down to play the interview in full*

JUSTIN SMITH: Simon Hogan is unusual. You wouldn’t know it to look at him. You’d think he was just a pleasant young bloke with an honest smile and kind eyes.

But the Geelong midfielder is holding on to a secret – he’s under 25 and NOT on Twitter.

The shock of this revelation could be felt through the social media types in the studio this week when Simon dropped in to chat with Neil. The words “not” and “Twitter” just could not compute.

As strange as it might have been, the message that Simon sent out through the old-fashioned wireless could not have been more important.

Earlier this year, the Cat was kicked around by depression. And kicked hard. It put him in hospital and made the daily routine of living and breathing a nightmare. Although he’s young, fit and signed up for a mighty footy team, there was no pleasure in anything. And the dark period just rolled on and on, and when nothing was changing he thought about taking his own life

In an incredibly frank interview with Neil Mitchell he got out a message that was as important as anything we’d ever heard.

Simon got help. He shopped around until he found the right people, and the pleasure came back.

So the message seems as simple as this “I felt terrible. I wanted to kill myself. I got help and now I feel better”.

If only we could bottle that message, put it on a t-shirt or a sticker, or write it across the sky. Think of the difference it could make.

Simon Hogan is the bravest of blokes. Instead of just feeling better and getting on with kicking a footy and standing waist deep in the cold sea, he wants to help. He’s been working with youth mental health group Headspace and wants to tell his story. Because his story is the same as too many other people, only some don’t – or can’t – get the help they need and the ending is just bloody sad.

On the Mitchell program, we’ve been thinking a lot about the increasing problems around mental health and suicide. With professionals, we’ve been working to find the right message. Has Simon provided it?  

So, forget the Twitter, the message dropped this with worth four-million Tweets. “I felt terrible. I wanted to kill myself. I got help and now I feel better”.

NEED HELP?

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467

Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800

MensLine Australia: 1300 78 99 78

Headspace (Non-crises youth support): 1800 650 890

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PLAY: Simon Hogan opens up about his depression battle

Neil Mitchell Suicide Forum

mENTAL HEALTH YOUTH SUICIDE 3AW SPECIAL: Neil Mitchell held a mental health / suicide forum. The commercial-free segment includes Neil Mitchell hosting discussion between Michael Carr Gregg, Adolescant Pyschologist, Professor Pat McGorry, Executive Director of Orygen Youth Health and Tom Harkin, Youth Worker with the Reach Foundation.

 

Jonah's video sends strong message

Jonah Jonah details the struggles he has had in his short life, as society continues to tear shreds off any remaining stigma left when it comes to mental health issue. Neil Mitchell and Dr Michael Carr-Gregg have more - click the image of Jonah on the right.

Blog comments Your Say

  • well done, and thats so very hard to speak up, and to keep going,such a brave person, but please stop saying just go to teh doctors and get help, has anyone tried to getin to the doctors when you need them, and then you keep saying see a phycs, well they cost and its at least 2 week wait, thats very hard when you need help now not then, any way by speaking up if it only helps one person its worth it, well done young man

    kimmy 1 Wednesday 7 December, 2011 - 4:35 PM

  • go simon you can do it I do public speaking so just think you will be great.

    lani Wednesday 7 December, 2011 - 12:17 PM

  • very brave and I am sure you will help a lot of young people to be as brave as you.

    thank you

    mike Wednesday 7 December, 2011 - 11:34 AM

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