University of Wollongong Research Online Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers Faculty of Social Sciences 2015 Delivering the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Course within the National Rugby League (NRL): Evaluation Report Jioji Ravulo University of Wollongong, [email protected] Publication Details Ravulo, J. (2015). Delivering the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Course within the National Rugby League (NRL): Evaluation Report. Western Sydney University. Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong. For further information contact the UOW Library: [email protected] Delivering the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Course within the National Rugby League (NRL): Evaluation Report Abstract Mental illness is a reality for many Australians. The aN tional Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, conducted in 2007 with people aged 16-85, revealed that one in five Australians, or 3.2 million people, had a 12-month mental disorder (a mental illness occurring 12 months before the survey took place) (ABS, 2007). The urs vey further revealed that 16 million Australians (45%) within this age bracket suffered with a mental illness at some point in their lives. While these findings are slowly becoming public knowledge, there is still a limited understanding amongst laypeople regarding the overt and more covert symptoms of mental illness, as well as appropriate methods of treatment and support for those that struggle with such challenges in their daily lives. Despite popular opinion, elite athletes are not exempt from these statistics. The pressures and expectations of clubs, coaches, fans and players themselves can reinforce feelings of isolation and loneliness (Storch and Ohslon, 2009), which discourage those experiencing mental illness to seek help. Compounding this sense of isolation are the physical, mental and emotional demands of elite athleticism partnered with the debilitating stigma that is rampart within the sports industry (Griffin, 2013).n I response to the needs of such an underserviced population, this report assesses the effectiveness of the Mental Health First Aid course, for stakeholders across the National Rugby League (NRL), and their responses to the course. This course is run over one or two days, depending on the availability of each cohort, and provides an overview of a range of mental illnesses, their symptoms, and how lay people can be better trained in assessing symptoms and referring those in need to mental health care professionals. Keywords first, evaluation, health, mental, delivering, (nrl):, league, rugby, national, within, course, (mhfa), aid, report Disciplines Education | Social and Behavioral Sciences Publication Details Ravulo, J. (2015). Delivering the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Course within the National Rugby League (NRL): Evaluation Report. Western Sydney University. This report is available at Research Online: https://ro.uow.edu.au/sspapers/3890 DELIVERING THE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (MHFA) COURSE WITHIN THE NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE (NRL): Evaluation Report November 2015 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Evaluation Manager: Dr. Jioji Ravulo Evaluation Support: Shannon Said School of Social Sciences & Psychology WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY Welfare & Education National Manager: Paul Heptonstall NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE © Jioji Ravulo 2015 Western Sydney University ISBN: 978-1-74108-380-4 Introduction Mental illness is a reality for many Australians. fans and players themselves can reinforce The National Survey of Mental Health feelings of isolation and loneliness (Storch and Wellbeing, conducted in 2007 with and Ohslon, 2009), which discourage those people aged 16-85, revealed that one in experiencing mental illness to seek help. five Australians, or 3.2 million people, had a Compounding this sense of isolation are the 12-month mental disorder (a mental illness physical, mental and emotional demands occurring 12 months before the survey took of elite athleticism partnered with the place) (ABS, 2007). The survey further debilitating stigma that is rampart within the revealed that 16 million Australians (45%) sports industry (Griffin, 2013). In response within this age bracket suffered with a to the needs of such an underserviced mental illness at some point in their lives. population, this report assesses the While these findings are slowly becoming effectiveness of the Mental Health First Aid public knowledge, there is still a limited course, for stakeholders across the National understanding amongst laypeople regarding Rugby League (NRL), and their responses to the overt and more covert symptoms of the course. This course is run over one or two mental illness, as well as appropriate methods days, depending on the availability of each of treatment and support for those that cohort, and provides an overview of a range struggle with such challenges in their daily of mental illnesses, their symptoms, and how lives. Despite popular opinion, elite athletes lay people can be better trained in assessing are not exempt from these statistics. The symptoms and referring those in need to pressures and expectations of clubs, coaches, mental health care professionals1. 1 More information about the course can be accessed from https://mhfa.com.au/. DELIVERING THE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (MHFA) COURSE WITHIN THE NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE (NRL): EVALUATION REPORT 3 Literature Review TRENDS IN MENTAL HEALTH IN AUSTRALIA disadvantage, poor housing, lack of social 258). Of the mental illness symptoms cited, support and the level of access to, and use depression was noted as the most prevalent Trends within Australia’s general population of, health services” (ibid, no page numbers). (27.2%), followed by eating disorders (22.8%), reveal that one in five will be diagnosed with Once again, there appears a link between General Psychological Distress, (16.5%), social a mental illness at some point in their lives social services and the health of the general anxiety (14.7%), Generalised Anxiety Disorder, (ABS, 2007). The National Survey further population. 26% of those with a 12-month or GAD (7.1%) and Panic Disorder (4.5%). showed that anxiety disorders1, affective mental disorder stated that they felt “their disorders2 and substance abuse disorders3 are need for counselling [was not] met or only The presence of mental illnesses is further the most prevalent 12-month illnesses (those had their need partially met. A slightly higher reinforced by the fact that elite athletes recorded as happening within the 12 months proportion, 29% did not have their need experience “a heightened sense of social prior to the Survey) (ibid). These conditions for information met or only had their need and public evaluation” (Gulliver, Griffiths, are implicated by a range of population partially met”. Crampton (2014) further Mackinnon, Batterham, and Stanimirovic 2015, characteristics, such as one’s employment reiterates this concept in the case of elite- p.259), which could be a trigger to some of status, living arrangements, life experiences athletes performing at the 2000 Olympics, the aforementioned social mental disorders (homelessness, incarceration), and contact where support services were effective around (GAD, as well as social anxiety disorder). It with family and friends. One’s smoker status, the lead-up to the event, but did not sustain is suggested that young athletes be shown alcohol consumption, misuse of drugs, general afterwards. He argues that “organisations how to “perform their sporting-related roles levels of psychological distress, suicidal must show genuine concern for each effectively” (ibid), which could potentially behaviour, and disability status also have individual’s wellbeing by providing support bolster their resilience against these illnesses. bearing upon mental health. throughout a performer’s career” (p. 52, These conditions are not simply a part Comorbidity, or the occurrence of more emphasis original), and not wait until the point of athletes’ lives during their sporting than one disease or disorder, alongside the of personal crises and consequent debilitation careers, but can pervade later life, making use of support services for these mental before these services are utilised (p.46). it imperative for sporting institutions to health challenges, are also issues of concern. Considering the prevalence of mental health adhere to more diligent standards to ensure Of particular significance to this report is issues in the community at large, it seems that the health and prosperity of their players’ the reality that “More than a quarter (26%) significant promotion and development of wellbeing and personal longevity. Kerr, of people aged 16-24 years and a similar services is required so that consumers receive DeFreese and Marshall (2014) analyse data proportion (25%) of people aged 25-34 years the help they need. from 797 retired American sportspeople had a 12-month mental disorder compared via online surveys, which revealed trends with 5.9% of those aged 75-85 years” (ABS, MENTAL HEALTH AND ELITE ATHLETES that are consistent with the general U.S. 2007, no page numbers). As this is the prime Whilst there is a perception that elite population. For retired American Football age for NRL players to be at the peak of their athletes do not suffer from these conditions, players, these included “higher prevalences careers, it is incumbent upon clubs and other surveys completed with this population and earlier onset of Alzhemier’s disease and support services to know how to aid players suggest otherwise.