--- title: "Australian Footballers Square Off Against Stigma Around Mental Illness" id: "34268" type: "post" slug: "australian-footballers-square-off-against-stigma-around-mental-illness" published_at: "2016-07-26T21:18:37+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T17:04:18+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/07/26/australian-footballers-square-off-against-stigma-around-mental-illness/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/07/26/australian-footballers-square-off-against-stigma-around-mental-illness.md" excerpt: "Athletes, coaches, and researchers Down Under are teaming up to launch an online initiative to encourage men to talk openly with one another about mental health issues." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Advocacy" - "AssociationsNow" - "e-sports" - "mental health" - "Technology" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Australian Footballers Square Off Against Stigma Around Mental Illness The hardened players of Australia’s rough-and-tumble variant on football want to tackle a different sort of challenge: the stigma surrounding mental illness. The Australian Football League Players’ Association (AFL Players’ Association) recently partnered with researchers at La Trobe University, the AFL Coaches Association, and other groups to foster dialogue about mental health. Known as “Better Out Than In,” the [internet-based campaign (opens in a new tab)](http://betteroutthanin.com.au/) is aimed at men in particular. “The project is based on the premise that sharing and hearing real-life stories is one of the most powerful ways of reducing self-stigma in communities of men,” said Sports Psychologist Paul O’Halloran [in a statement. (opens in a new tab)](https://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/articles/2016/release/partnership-with-afl-tackles-depression) “It aims to send the message that asking for help is a sign of courage rather than weakness.” The online platform features videos of men talking about their experience with mental illness as well as links to support strategies and services. One major goal is to help men talk to friends who are showing signs of having difficulties. Early contributors include John Longmire, coach of the AFL’s Sydney Swans, who [in a short video discusses (opens in a new tab)](http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/2016-07-12/longmire-helps-launch-better-out-than-in-) the importance of men talking about their feelings. AFL Players’ Association CEO Paul Marsh [told Sydney Swans Media (opens in a new tab)](http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/2016-07-12/longmire-helps-launch-better-out-than-in-) he is excited for what the new platform will do in normalizing depression and, more broadly, mental illness. “Hearing stories from the likes of AFL players, AFL coaches, and everyday construction workers about dealing with mental illness will do a lot to break down the stereotypes often attached to mental illness,” Marsh said. “Mental illness doesn’t discriminate, so we need to do everything we can to normalize conversation around it to encourage those affected to speak up to those close to them and ask for assistance.” AFL’s initiative, though, is not an outlier. Organizations around the globe have begun undertaking efforts to highlight mental health issues. Earlier this year, the [National Collegiate Athletic Association released a new set of guidelines](http://associationsnow.com/2016/02/ncaa-initiative-puts-athletes-mental-health-forefront/) for dealing with mental health issues of student athletes. In 2015, star NFL running back Arian Foster also teamed up with fellow player Brandon Marshall’s PROJECT 375—a nonprofit similarly geared toward destigmatizing mental illness—after coming to terms with his illness. Foster [publicly discussed his problem with substance abuse (opens in a new tab)](http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/11/23/nfl-players-talk-openly-to-help-destigmatize-mental-illness.html) and subsequent treatment, while Marshall has opened up about his 2011 borderline personality diagnosis. Other well-known players have struggled with mental illness. Super Bowl veteran Junior Seau committed suicide in 2012 with doctors later determining he suffered from a [neurodegenerative disease (opens in a new tab)](http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/01/10/169059032/study-of-junior-seaus-brain-finds-signs-of-neurodegenerative-disease) linked to repeated head injuries. Many of his former colleagues also have fought depression, isolation, and anxiety. Back in Australia, researchers with La Trobe University say they plan on eventually [evaluating the effectiveness (opens in a new tab)](http://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/articles/2016/release/partnership-with-afl-tackles-depression) of “Better Out Than In.” Jake Edwards, a former AFL football star who struggled with mental health issues, shown in a clip for the “Better Out Than In” campaign. (YouTube screenshot) [Derrick Perkins](https://associationsnow.com/author/derrick-perkins/) [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/derrick-perkins/) Tags: [#Advocacy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/advocacy/) [#e-sports](https://associationsnow.com/tag/e-sports/) [#mental health](https://associationsnow.com/tag/mental-health/) [#Technology](https://associationsnow.com/tag/technology/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoInvesting in Well-being: The Strategic Advantage of Mental Health Support in the WorkplaceJune 23, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/06/23/investing-in-well-being-the-strategic-advantage-of-mental-health-support-in-the-workplace/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: Powering Advocacy-Why PACs Matter for AssociationsNovember 20, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/11/20/associations-now-presents-powering-advocacy-why-pacs-matter-for-associations/) - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [PodcastNavigating Tax Reform: Advocacy for Associations and NonprofitsDecember 19, 2024](https://associationsnow.com/2024/12/19/navigating-tax-reform-advocacy-for-associations-and-nonprofits/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2016%2F07%2F26%2Faustralian-footballers-square-off-against-stigma-around-mental-illness%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !