Depression and despair rule Kiwis

As many as 15 percent of New Zealand's professional players may be wrestling with stress, anxiety, substance abuse and behavioural and mental health issues.

This is the outcome of a survey, done by the New Zealand Herald, in the wake of the Julian Savea saga - the latest in a long line of All Blacks who fell foul of the law.

According to the report performance and selection anxiety, loneliness, relationship stress, financial concerns and a lack of social support make players predisposed to suffering behavioural and mental health challenges, says players' union boss Rob Nichol.

New Zealand Rugby Union Chief Executive Steve Tew Sunday ordered an independent assessment to look at how the NZRU treated its players, particularly young ones, after Savea was charged with the assault of his partner.

"Without judging the rights or wrongs of this case, we are concerned that this is another incident involving a young player. We need to find out whether we are doing enough to help these young men cope with the pressures of the professional game," he said.

"Overall, we've got a large group of young men who generally do a very good job for themselves and the teams they play for. But we've had a number of instances in the past 12 months so I think it's just time to check that what we are doing is right."

Little work has been done on how young players cope, but a players' association survey of former players found many struggled with life after retirement.

The survey of 123 former professional players found they suffered from:
* Feelings of depression or despair (35 percent).
* High levels of anxiety and stress (30 percent).
* Alcohol or substance abuse (23 percent).
* Relationship issues (20 percent).
* Aggression issues (13 percent).

"We believe that athletes do have a higher propensity to have challenges in this [area] than normal people," Nichol told the Herald.

"We do a lot physically for athletes but we don't do enough mentally."

Over a five-year period up to 2011, 81 players sought professional help for off-field issues. While incidents such as Savea's assault of his partner hit the headlines, many others were averted through successful intervention, said Nichol.

"The reality is we are always going to have players who come into the professional ranks who have challenges. We just need to get our heads around that and say 'okay, how do we deal with it'? When we stack up against other sporting codes, we do a lot. We do pretty well, but we are the first to say we need to do better."

Professional players go through an induction process that includes advice on personal risk - namely alcohol, drugs and women. They role-play various scenarios and discuss how to deal with them. Personal development officers are on hand to help at the unions and Super Rugby franchises.

There is an employee helpline players can call anonymously, and they can access free counselling sessions.

"There's a comprehensive network and range of expertise available," Nichol said.

The difficulty is convincing players to access it.

"It is a two-way thing. For every good initiative we have going on you look for reciprocation from the athlete."

Julian Savea's statement: "Thank you all for coming. There was an incident last Sunday and I've been charged with common assault. Whilst I can't go in to the details because it is now before the courts, I understand that the details will come out in due course.

"But I will say that my partner and I did have an argument, I did some things that are wrong and that I shouldn't have done and I apologise for that ... [pauses] To my partner and her family I just want to say that I'm sorry to hurt someone that you love and care so much for. To be in this situation, I know it's hurting them and it's definitely hurting me, so I apologise to them ... And although I do not want to make this about the Hurricanes and the NZRU and the All Blacks, I do represent them.

"And just a few key points from me, I just want you guys to know that I'm not making excuses for myself, I know what I did was wrong and I'm taking steps to make sure this will never happen again and my main concern after all of this is making sure that my partner and baby are okay after all of this.

"Thank you for listening and thanks for coming."

Top rugby players in trouble

2006: All Black forward Sione Lauaki granted diversion after admitting an assault charge. In 2010, Lauaki is fined NZ$800 for another assault.

April 2007: Former All Black wing Sitiveni Sivivatu pleads guilty to assaulting his wife. He is discharged without conviction.

November 2007: Chiefs back Soseni Anesi fined and granted diversion after pleading guilty to assault.

April 2009: Blues halfback Taniela Moa charged with assault after throwing a bottle that hit a woman at the Marist Rugby Club. He was granted diversion.

June 2009: All Black forward Adam Thomson cleared of assault charges after his partner admits she overreacted by calling 111 during an argument at a motel following a wedding.

December 2009: Taranaki player and Samoa sevens rep Paul Perez issued with a deportation order after being convicted of assaulting his partner.

September 2011: Canterbury NPC player Paea Fa'anunu is fined NZ$1000 for assaulting his partner.

November 2011: Naked, bleeding All Black Zac Guildford staggers into a bar in Rarotonga and punches two holidaymakers. Guildford vows to give up drinking, but in January this year he is again in trouble, after punching a partygoer at a Christchurch house. Guildford confesses he is an alcoholic and seeks treatment.

December 2011: An unnamed former All Black is convicted of assaulting his son with a leather belt. The boy received minor bruising to his shoulder and redness and bruising to his lower leg. The conviction is later overturned by the high court.

May 2012: Former All Black Stephen Bachop convicted of assaulting his partner, a member of the public and resisting arrest. He was discharged without penalty after paying a NZ$500 donation to Women's Refuge.

August 2012: All Black back Rene Ranger cleared of an assault charge after an altercation in a Northland pub car park that left a man unconscious.

March 2013: All Blacks loose forward Jerry Collins has been arrested in Japan on charges of illegally carrying a kitchen knife.

April 2013: All Black wing Julian Savea charged with assaulting his partner.

Source: New Zealand Herald

just as you thought we have some issues in south africa hey :P

Ceradyne

Thanks for the article> I d believe this type of thing is more universal than we think and it happens all over the world - take for instance the Oscar Pistorius case.

I do believe it is basically psychological.   Professional sports people get accolades of good performances and develop psychologically the idea that they ar super-human and all others must accept everything - even assualt - because of that.   The best sportsmen and women with impeccable records remain human and humble and it shows in their game and private life.

Certainly inestigations are necessary - but another investigation into substance abuse is equally necessary staring on schoolo level - sunbtance abuse has side effects noticeable for years afterwards and should be nibbed in the bud immediately after it is first detected.  Part of those side-effects are also psychological.

 This is a real shame, while some of these young men (the Guilfords, the Saveas, the Cowan's) need to take responsibility for the actions they absolutely need more education into making good decisions and greater occupational support.  NZ rugby should be about producing great rugby players, but also about producing great people.

This is a problem in NZ rugby.

I still think old man mcaaaws taking up witha high class british madame is a scandal worth mentioning Windpomp! Scandalous affair really given his role model status. Calling it a sabbatical!!!!  Hahahaha

Now if more Kiwis joined this board we  well behaved saffas could help them!! Show them whats right and wrong. Look how well saSUE and even poooie are progressing.

Look these professional rugby players are little more than schoolboys. Just look how the refs scold them etc. They may be big but they are boys at heart. Now what they need is some firm adult guidance and monitoring. Back in hotel by 9.30. Bed by 10.30 or whatever. Dont treat them like adults!!! Also drug test them regularly.

Firm discipline is needed for all rugby players an despecially the wayward  kiwis - they are running riot.

Also there needs to be some career development for the post rugby life. 

Some just don't know how good they have it I guess. Having worked with a few young lads I can tell ya they have got big problems with  their attitude.

Personally I think alot of the trouble stems from when kiwis and teachers lost the right to beat their kids and discipline them properly. Also their are now illnesses called depression and stress, i mean give me a break cant even bollock somebody these days without them needing sick leave

allblacknblue

You are no doubt right about the upbringing of kids nowadays.  

I grew up on a farm started in the early 1720's in the Southern Cape,  My parents inherited  and applied a common trait in the family tradition of hospitality and community service and taught us some strict lessons about how to conduct ourselves.    

Every evening just before susnset - as far back as I can remember - the children had a talk with our parents.  My mother would ask my father about what is going on on the farm and my father would ask what we have done - later on - when in school we were asked about the school and what we have learnt.  

During the conversation - from my earliest memory - we were given a small glass of wine - and taught to treat liquor as a normal thing - never to be abused.   We would get another small glass of wine when we sat down for dinner.   Any form of alcohol usage was according to our family a thing to enjoy - but not to abuse.   I think it was very wise of my parents and others using the same traditions as we did.   None of the children ended up with any drinking problems.

A wonderful life - but my father was very, very strict - if we transgress and were naughty or did osomething wrong - we would be giving a good hiding together with strct instructions not to do it again.   Naughty we were and frequent hidings we got - but it did have a beneficial affect of major benefit to all the chilfren.  I am not in favour of any attacks on children - but a hiding on the backside is not harmful if it is restraint by reasonableness.

I find it weird that children cannot be disciplined anymore - neither in the family circle itself or in schools,   What emerges are people with scant regard for discipline and no interest in communiy service.   

The other negative nowadays is television.   Crime and bad conduct is nowadays a real entertainment scenario and violence is the norm.   In how many movies do you not see husbands slapping their wices and how many times do you not see attacks on woman.   No wonder the modern kids regard that as normal behaviour.

The modern way of life is not necessarily a way of life without some really bad connotations - and that also shows up in growing kids.       

 1720s!! Holy shit Mike I knew you were old but almost 300??  Tell me, what was the industrial revolution like?

Poi-e slipping up trying to be a wisecrack

I apologize for any offence caused Vlag, I'll ensure ensure all humour is at level fuckwit for your benefit moving forward...twat.

Calm down. Why so touchy? Where is your sense of humour? Or have you noticed where you went wrong?

Mike said that the he grew up on a farm that was started in the 1720's. He did not say that he grew up in the 1720's. Now screw your head back in, wipe the egg off your face and relax a bit, because you are actually being the twat at the moment.

 Ummm - I realise what it said, it was just a bit of tongue in cheek ribbing on a pretty heavy thread that hopefully Mike would have taken in the spirit it was intended...well it was until mister "How dare a Kiwi make fun of a Saffa let alone post anything that isn't about the correct way to wank over stats fun Nazi"  turned up to try and pop a bullet in it....have a great evening

poi-e

I have no problem wih your togue in cheek comments -   the family life I described was intended to covey a picture of the way we were brought up and the way we were taught about alcohol beverages  usage - as well as the way discipline used to be maintained.  

The farm was in possession of my ancestors for many generations.   The present smaller farmhouse was built in 1795 and the homestead in 1804.   Both homes had slave chambers in the basement and there were chaims built into the walls for chaining of slaves at night.   Slavery was ultimately abolished in 1834.   My mother could not accept the idea of living in a house with horrific things like that and she removed the chains herself and dunped it on a scrapyard in town.   The National Monument Commission was furiuos and wanted to lay charges against her - but the furore ultimately subsided.   

A wonderful life - with the impact that history is one of the must interesting study areas there could be.  

Wow really? Impressive history there Mike, fascinating.

 Ceradyne, you did not pick a winner out of all the "thugs" - for me, I would put my money on Zac .  

Ou maaaikie comes from a long lineage of rural farmers - very simple but honest folk who knew exactly how to dop - never too much and never too little. They could rightly be described as consistent.

What however its totally unaceceptable, and has been missed by all, is the shocking fact  that ou maaaikie was raised in the Cape and yet supports the guppies. ou maaaike one really wonders how you could have sunk soooo low! Its not too late to repent and return home like the prodigal son.

Poooie never mind ou windpomp he is a computer type and can only, to be polite, be described as dry (Like in desset).

Hakwa please oak they are all losers.   I commend you howver for not posting some insensitive picture when a serious discussion is taking place. Another kiwi learning the ways of a gentleman! We labour not in vain!

I have to agree with abnob though. Nobody wants abuse of children but neither does one want brats. A bit of well administered discpline harmed nobody. I suspect its what went wrong with ou rooitwit actually.

i agree mike parents trying to shy there children away from the elements of life generally end up overindulging in that thing.....i also grew up in a house with wine ext and always learned to respect it.

old zac surly wins in the villian of the year award his stunts is nothing short of legendary if you look at the other exploits.

well i reckon the best way to beat the kiwi's is to have a open bar tab at the hotel the night before the game.

the post does not make mention of all the other kiwi's exploits on tour. as we all know the kiwi's generally do tend to lose themselves in cape town from what i heard. mavericks are a popular destination as well....

Beeno

It was not really as simple a life as you mentioned.  My great grandfather was a close friend of Marie Koopmans-De Wet - the doyen of Cape Society in the 1800's and stayed with her in the house which is now the Koopmans-De Wet mueseum in Strand Street when visiting the city.   My grandparents and parents entertained people lavishly and at one such an occassion I can remember there were 5 cabinet ministers present.   PW Botha stayed on the farm for longish periods when working for the National Party and up towards the end was a family friend.  Just before he died he was present at my younger brothers funeral in Wilderness - purely because of the earlier ties between the families.

As my parents got older they realized the futility of the previous governments policies and became distant from the political scene,  My mother was particularly scathing about it.    We were brought up to respect all people and my mother was instrumental in getting the farm labourers children all through matric - some went on and became professionals - others took up administrative positions - but still keep contact with the family.    

As to my team support - my father was a regular at games at Newlands - often going there regualrly throughout the season.   I was brought up to be a WP supporter and maybe my Shark suport is based on something called needling you.   I do support the Sharks - but go very quiet when they play the Stormers or WP.   When I under such circumstances use needling to get the reponses I normally get those - much to my amusement.     

I think Clevermike has you there Beeno! Hakwa being the usual voice of reason!