The video in this article contains material that some people may find distressing. If you find yourself in need of assistance, visit beyondblue.org.au or call the Beyond Blue Support Service on 1300 22 4636.
Watch: James Hird opens up about his mental health battles
ARTICLE
07 June 2020
52 min watch
52 min watch
In an Australian exclusive, former Essendon Football superstar and coach James Hird sits down with AIA Vitality ambassador Shane Crawford to talk about what it took to get through the toughest seven years of his life.
James Hird is feeling just fine. But for a long time, he wasn’t.
At the height of the Essendon Football Club saga in 2013 – which rocked the AFL, the fans, and all of the players and coaches involved – James would have up to 250 members of the media outside his house, all day, every day.
Having already suffered with a loss of purpose after his retirement from the game some years earlier, the widely-publicised events of 2013 sent James on a downward spiral of self-doubt and depression. And it took him almost seven long and difficult years to work through it.
Now, in 2020, he’s found a way to compartmentalise everything he’s been through, everything he’s felt, and everything he’s feared, and he’s ready to begin life again.
“It took me a while to realise that the way to rebuild wasn’t about achieving this and that, it was actually becoming happy with myself again,” says James. “What am I, 47? This started at 40, so it's been a seven-year journey to come out to the point that I'm happy to talk about it, and I feel as good as ever.”
In an Australian exclusive, James sits down with AIA Vitality Ambassador (and ex arch-nemesis-turned-good-mate) Shane Crawford to talk about his life: the good, the bad, the ugly, and the rest. He details his struggles with his mental health in intense detail, and explains just what it took for him to come out of the other side.
Watch the video in full above.
The video in this article contains material that some people may find distressing. If you find yourself in need of assistance, visit beyondblue.org.au or call the Beyond Blue Support Service on 1300 22 4636.
Staff Writer
Staff writers come from a range of backgrounds including health, wellbeing, music, tech, culture and the arts. They spend their time researching the latest data and trends in the health market to deliver up-to-date information, helping everyday Australians live healthier lives. This is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstance
Disclaimer:
This is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a financial adviser, or medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.
This is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a financial adviser, or medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.
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offers ways to improve it and motivates you with rewards along the way.
offers ways to improve it and motivates you with rewards along the way.
