I hope Demonland lets this thread through.

It's an opportunity for all of us to talk about the often ignored subject of mental health.

And let's all be honest how not many people breeze though life without ever struggling at some point in their lives with anxiety or depression.

Id day it's a very small percentage.

So let's all chip in and say your not alone mate and try not to be afraid to talk about it. It will give others corage and quite possibly help a lot of people.

Life is hard. There is a lot going on in the world today.

It's also tough to be under performance standards at work all the time.

So let's give a shout out to everyone suffering from the myriad of problems about.

There is plenty of help available and new therapies and treatments are being developed every day.

Let's assert there is no shame with any mental health issues and especially standing tall and getting treatment for it or discussing it.

I mean a person with diabetes isn't different taking insulin.

I'm not suggesting this is the case with anyone but if it were, I would admire their courage for going that route.

We all have to look after ourselves and one another.

So my warm wishes and support to anyone on this site and anywhere doing it tough.

Take care

And go Dees.

42 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

I hope Demonland lets this thread through.

It's an opportunity for all of us to talk about the often ignored subject of mental health.

And let's all be honest how not many people breeze though life without ever struggling at some point in their lives with anxiety or depression.

Id day it's a very small percentage.

So let's all chip in and say your not alone mate and try not to be afraid to talk about it. It will give others corage and quite possibly help a lot of people.

Life is hard. There is a lot going on in the world today.

It's also tough to be under performance standards at work all the time.

So let's give a shout out to everyone suffering from the myriad of problems about.

There is plenty of help available and new therapies and treatments are being developed every day.

Let's assert there is no shame with any mental health issues and especially standing tall and getting treatment for it or discussing it.

I mean a person with diabetes isn't different taking insulin.

I'm not suggesting this is the case with anyone but if it were, I would admire their courage for going that route.

We all have to look after ourselves and one another.

So my warm wishes and support to anyone on this site and anywhere doing it tough.

Take care

And go Dees.

there are sometimes more important things than footy

As someone who is always going through this kind of stuff this is great to see. I can say firsthand that letting people know and getting help is the best decision to make. There are plenty of resources out there, and while they may not be perfect, we don't live in a world anymore where you have to feel weak for asking for a bit of help. You'll find that most people are supportive and understanding and are going through things themselves.

Nice sentiment

My father has dealt with bipolar all his life and therefore so have all us family

I consider myself relatively lucky to only suffer anxiety but it is tough to deal with all time

Shout out to those that get up and deal with MH issues every day

I’m glad that my kids are growing up in a much more accepting society than 30 years ago. When my Dad eventually told his friends, he lost virtually all of them

6 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

I hope Demonland lets this thread through.

It's an opportunity for all of us to talk about the often ignored subject of mental health.

And let's all be honest how not many people breeze though life without ever struggling at some point in their lives with anxiety or depression.

Id day it's a very small percentage.

So let's all chip in and say your not alone mate and try not to be afraid to talk about it. It will give others corage and quite possibly help a lot of people.

Life is hard. There is a lot going on in the world today.

It's also tough to be under performance standards at work all the time.

So let's give a shout out to everyone suffering from the myriad of problems about.

There is plenty of help available and new therapies and treatments are being developed every day.

Let's assert there is no shame with any mental health issues and especially standing tall and getting treatment for it or discussing it.

I mean a person with diabetes isn't different taking insulin.

I'm not suggesting this is the case with anyone but if it were, I would admire their courage for going that route.

We all have to look after ourselves and one another.

So my warm wishes and support to anyone on this site and anywhere doing it tough.

Take care

And go Dees.

Well done my friend, well done.

3 hours ago, Simmo0911 said:

As someone who is always going through this kind of stuff this is great to see. I can say firsthand that letting people know and getting help is the best decision to make. There are plenty of resources out there, and while they may not be perfect, we don't live in a world anymore where you have to feel weak for asking for a bit of help. You'll find that most people are supportive and understanding and are going through things themselves.

Hi Simmo0911

This is exactly the reason I posted this thread.

I wish you all the best and admire your courage to stand up and admit this.

I hope things care good with you at present and if there not hang in.

I wish you very warm wishes and support.

I struggled with severe depression in my 20 s and early 30s but now seem to have turned the corner in the last 30 years so I'm very fortunate.

I still have some anxiety but this is mostly around some very challenging health issues so it's quite natural. Also a lot of it is about my children and I think that's just par for the course having children.

I found a lot of people don't really understand depression. It's not a matter of feeling sad, it's a whole range of different things for different people.

It was the brain fog that got to me

But back to you... Im sending you kind thoughts and feelings and letting you know there is always hope

I hope this doesn't sound patronizing in anyway.

Take care of yourself.

2 hours ago, DubDee said:

Nice sentiment

My father has dealt with bipolar all his life and therefore so have all us family

I consider myself relatively lucky to only suffer anxiety but it is tough to deal with all time

Shout out to those that get up and deal with MH issues every day

I’m glad that my kids are growing up in a much more accepting society than 30 years ago. When my Dad eventually told his friends, he lost virtually all of them

That's a terrible stigma that your poor dad faced. As of he didn't have enough to deal with.

Some friends they turned out to be.

Great thread. had to shake off the black dog more than a few times myself. doing pretty good at the moment though.

cannot stress enough the importance of talking to someone about it. even just to vent. ring a mate or get a coffee - i guarantee theyll be happy to chat if you need it.

If you think you are depressed please get professional help. Your mates may be well intentioned but unless they have experienced depression they will have no idea of how to treat it. Also you don’t have to tell everyone. Keep it to close family and even closer friends.

As to Clayton, I think if he still wants to move on we should get the best deal we can. Life is too short and as a club and fans we will quickly move on and always hold a soft spot for a champion player.

Depression and anxiety are definitely challenging to deal with. The best thing, for me personally, is to try and keep busy and to talk to people who are supportive and understanding.

As for Clayton Oliver. I hope he knows that we love him. He is a Demon champion and helped us break our 57 year Premiership drought. For that, I am eternally grateful. ❤️💙

*hat tip in affirmation of sentiment*

1 hour ago, 48 Year Now said:

If you think you are depressed please get professional help. Your mates may be well intentioned but unless they have experienced depression they will have no idea of how to treat it. Also you don’t have to tell everyone. Keep it to close family and even closer friends.

As to Clayton, I think if he still wants to move on we should get the best deal we can. Life is too short and as a club and fans we will quickly move on and always hold a soft spot for a champion player.

Top post

I take all this “Mental Health issues” labelling with a pinch of salt. Just a shopping cart of footballers with a variety of uncomfortable truths that mess with form and private lives. None of our business to know or speculate anyway. Of course we all wish for Oliver to recapture his past glories but if he was just a spud no one would give a rats [censored] about any mental health issues.

Edited May 5May 5 by John Crow Batty

9 minutes ago, John Crow Batty said:

I take all this “Mental Health issues” labelling with a pinch of salt. Just a shopping cart of footballers with a variety of uncomfortable truths that mess with form and private lives. None of our business to know or speculate anyway. Of course we all wish for Oliver to recapture his past glories but if he was just a spud no one would give a rats [censored] about any mental health issues.

I dunno about that

1 hour ago, John Crow Batty said:

I take all this “Mental Health issues” labelling with a pinch of salt. Just a shopping cart of footballers with a variety of uncomfortable truths that mess with form and private lives. None of our business to know or speculate anyway. Of course we all wish for Oliver to recapture his past glories but if he was just a spud no one would give a rats [censored] about any mental health issues.

Don't worry about what the club lists as a reason for a player missing a game. This thread is about us supporters.

22 hours ago, John Crow Batty said:

I take all this “Mental Health issues” labelling with a pinch of salt. Just a shopping cart of footballers with a variety of uncomfortable truths that mess with form and private lives. None of our business to know or speculate anyway. Of course we all wish for Oliver to recapture his past glories but if he was just a spud no one would give a rats [censored] about any mental health issues.

I look at it a bit like Celiacs disease.

For every loudmouth who might not even have the illness but who feels a need to preach to everyone about going gluten free and FODMAP, there's a whole collection of people who are getting on with quietly adjusting their diet and longing for proper pizza.

You have to be gracious even to the attention-seekers in order to do right by the quiet sufferers.

You can bet there would be dozens of AFL players, coaches and staff who are managing some form of mental health problems and 'masking' it enough that it never comes to the public attention.

As for us supporters, I've known a few over the years who were very clearly displacing all kinds of issues into football. Imagine being so table-thumpingly upset about a Brent Prismall mis-kick that a suburban football club goes quiet for a moment.

Which reminds me; has everyone already seen the short video made by Norwich football club about a year ago?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX8TgVR33KM

On 05/05/2025 at 13:18, Supreme_Demon said:

Depression and anxiety are definitely challenging to deal with. The best thing, for me personally, is to try and keep busy and to talk to people who are supportive and understanding.

As for Clayton Oliver. I hope he knows that we love him. He is a Demon champion and helped us break our 57 year Premiership drought. For that, I am eternally grateful. ❤️💙

Thanks for your honesty El Supremo

And nice words and sentiment about and towards young Clayton.

Being busy is good. Exercise... especially aerobic, really helps me.

In oldy day time and it's sad I remember this ,there was a saying that the devil loves idle hands.

It's a tad superstitious but the core of it, for me at least, holds a lot.of truth.

Sit around too long and do nothing and your mind will control you instead of you driving it where it needs to go and be and do.

I hope that makes sense 😃

Take care.

Litd.

20 hours ago, Little Goffy said:

I look at it a bit like Celiacs disease.

For every loudmouth who might not even have the illness but who feels a need to preach to everyone about going gluten free and FODMAP, there's a whole collection of people who are getting on with quietly adjusting their diet and longing for proper pizza.

You have to be gracious even to the attention-seekers in order to do right by the quiet sufferers.

You can bet there would be dozens of AFL players, coaches and staff who are managing some form of mental health problems and 'masking' it enough that it never comes to the public attention.

As for us supporters, I've known a few over the years who were very clearly displacing all kinds of issues into football. Imagine being so table-thumpingly upset about a Brent Prismall mis-kick that a suburban football club goes quiet for a moment.

Which reminds me; has everyone already seen the short video made by Norwich football club about a year ago?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX8TgVR33KM

Without making light of any issues here or anyone's problems.....those down cast supporters just look like every single MFC supporter during many of our poor seasons prior to finally winning a cup.

I'm sorry but sometimes a good laugh or chuckle never hurts.

Not to make light of real serious issues that some loved ones of mine experience. Because for some they can really suffer.

As I mentioned prior depression isn't about feeling sad...often it involves great clouds in one mind. A fogginess that clouds so much. Headaches. Forgetfulness. Lethargy. And for some it feels like their brain actually physically hurts

As for anxiety, it can be totally disabling for some on occasions.

So my total love and sincere sympathy to anyone who deals with any of all of89 this. And for those I know personally, my support. Maybe occasionally financially but sometimes to listen but sometimes just to keep them company and let them know, that good and real mates stick by each other, always.

That what makes this country so bloody good.

And why it could never be the 51 St state of the USA. Australians are built different. In a very good way. Mateship between men or women is a pivotal value of our mob.

And I think that's why AFL is such a great sport. Not only do mates get to be mates on the field, off the ground it's an excuse to get together and just be mates.

But as said previous, hang in there everyone because everyday new medication and therapies and understanding and acceptance are happening all the time.

Just got caught up with all the fiasco, but is getting really tiring how trivialized mental health has become. The amount of nonsense that is coming from Bailey Smith and Willie Rioli is a joke. Are they really suffering from mental heath issues?

Let’s look at those 2.. The former consistently cried about his anxiety and mental health issues, but then carries on like a [censored] and takes cheap shots at the club and those within who did their utmost to care, nurture and and protect him.

Then, we have Rioli who also cried about mental vulnerabilities threatening fellow work colleagues with physical bodily harm and without consequence?

You just look at the stark contrast to the treatment of Oliver and our club from the media and it’s night and day. Imagine if the member of the public threatened Rioli, or god forbid Dale did it.. would they receive the same sort of care and support?

For some reason, people, the media are doing their best to protect vermin like Rioli, but constantly taking cheap and unnecessary shots at Oliver during his trying times.

Absolute joke. Effed up. Really feel for

Those who are TRULY suffering from mental health and not those who play pretend like the Bailey Smith’s and Willie Rioli’s of the world.

Edited May 7May 7 by VNightCityLegend

Society are getting better dealing with mental illness and those struggling with it. I think nearly always people want no one taking their own lives or those at risk having diminished lives. It's not a bad starting point to work backwards from there by at least accepting or not stigmatising others for perceived flaws or strange, but harmless, behaviour. Being judgemental can only exacerbate things (regardless of whether that's towards a famous sportsman or a loner at the bus stop with sloppy clothes and a thousand-yard stare.)

On 06/05/2025 at 13:55, Little Goffy said:

You have to be gracious even to the attention-seekers in order to do right by the quiet sufferers.

An excellent sentiment that applies to so much more than mental health.

Well said.

On 06/05/2025 at 13:55, Little Goffy said:

I look at it a bit like Celiacs disease.

For every loudmouth who might not even have the illness but who feels a need to preach to everyone about going gluten free and FODMAP, there's a whole collection of people who are getting on with quietly adjusting their diet and longing for proper pizza.

You have to be gracious even to the attention-seekers in order to do right by the quiet sufferers.

You can bet there would be dozens of AFL players, coaches and staff who are managing some form of mental health problems and 'masking' it enough that it never comes to the public attention.

As for us supporters, I've known a few over the years who were very clearly displacing all kinds of issues into football. Imagine being so table-thumpingly upset about a Brent Prismall mis-kick that a suburban football club goes quiet for a moment.

Which reminds me; has everyone already seen the short video made by Norwich football club about a year ago?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX8TgVR33KM

Absolutely agree, and this is a fantastic post.

Unfortunately, there will always be a portion of people who use “mental health” as a shield against repercussions and judgement for their actions. Sadly, it’s because of this that those who are genuinely struggling, face stigmas, judgement and dismissive attitudes by their peers.

Once again, great post and verbatim. Well said.

2 hours ago, BLWNBA said:

Absolutely agree, and this is a fantastic post.

Unfortunately, there will always be a portion of people who use “mental health” as a shield against repercussions and judgement for their actions. Sadly, it’s because of this that those who are genuinely struggling, face stigmas, judgement and dismissive attitudes by their peers.

Once again, great post and verbatim. Well said.

Sadly sometimes this is the case.