Former AFL player Tom Derickx shares journey on R U OK? Day

A Dunsborough-born model, musician and former AFL player believes a simple conversation and support through listening can make a powerful difference to people’s mental wellbeing. Tom Derickx has worked as an ambassador for R U OK? Day for five years and has been sharing his own experience with mental health while playing for Richmond and the Sydney Swans. “I was playing professional sport and I wasn’t feeling my best, I wasn’t feeling myself, I had some anxiety issues,” he said. “I think I was almost forced into talking about it, and then I sort of realised the power of those conversations. That’s when I sort of became really passionate about those conversations and one thing led to another. “I think the power of speaking out was really important to me, and then I could just see it sort of snowballing with my friends who came and started coming to me to talk and I found that really powerful.” Derickx said checking in with friends and colleagues, even in the most basic way, was vital to keeping healthy. “I think the power of listening is just incredible,” he said. “Whenever I’ve been dealing with things and just having a mate and a bit of a network where I can go and just talk — it’s such a good feeling, and I’m so lucky to have that. “Just be able to listen and and not have a judgment on someone’s story and what they’re going through; and sometimes you don’t even have to offer advice, sometimes you can just listen.” The Regional Men’s Health Initiative’s community educator Glen Dunkerton — based in Busselton — said it was important for people to stay socially connected. “This can so often be something that historically, blokes tend to not do,” he said. “We joke about blokes having their mid-life crisis and self-medicating with sex, drugs and rock and roll, but in our experience, that’s not the case. “They tend to isolate themselves when they’re under the pump, they tend to just disappear and work harder, and quite often that then cuts them off from any form of support. “The big thing is to encourage people to ask ‘are you ok?’ on any day because life happens every day, and therefore it’s important to realise that.” Mr Dunkerton said in regional, rural and remote areas that first point of contact was important with specialist services often hours away. “The unique sort of point of reference for us all is that whilst we might not have immediate access to those specialist services, what we do have access to is our teammates, workmates, family members, community members, and that’s a really important resource that we shouldn’t ignore.” “Getting to travel the State and speak to different communities all over the State, I do tend to do a lot of the South West stuff, and we go where the need is. “I can see it within my own family, that from my Dad to me, there’s been an improvement. My son’s probably a bit better than me at talking and perhaps seeking some assistance. “So generationally, we can see that there’s change happening and it’s a good thing, and I hope to see that carried on, on a community wide, generational-wide sort of scope, because it can only be better for us.” R U OK? Day is hosted on September 12. Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue 1300 224 636