O'Connor

TOKYO, JAPAN – SEPTEMBER 23: James O’Connor of Australia poses for a portrait following a press conference on September 23, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

O’Connor wants to foster openness over mental health

James O’Connor says that he has turned his life around thanks to an organisation called Saviour World who helped him address mental health issues

O'Connor

TOKYO, JAPAN – SEPTEMBER 23: James O’Connor of Australia poses for a portrait following a press conference on September 23, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Australia utility back James O’Connor hopes that his comeback to international rugby will help bring mental health issues in the sport into the open.

O’Connor believes that the men who play rugby would greatly benefit from frank discussions about mental health and hopes his story will inspire others to seek help when they need it.

The world of professional rugby is a mental health pressure cooker with the best players expected to perform week in and week out while being subjected to a barrage of criticism from media and fans. 

O’Connor would like to see more players make use of the resources available to them as well as opening up about personal struggles.

“I have rebuilt myself, faced my darkness,” said O’Connor after the Pool D game between Australia and Fiji on Saturday 21 September. 

“Rugby is now my platform to inspire others. It is important that the message gets out.

“You see how much awareness is coming out. Men are starting to talk now, mental health has become so much more in the public eye. There is so much knowledge out there now. If you want to seek it, you can find it.” 

O’Connor made an ignoble exit from Australian Rugby in 2013 after being stood down from the Wallaby team following an incident at Perth airport. O’Connor left Australia to ply his trade in Europe, courting further controversy but returned to his home country earlier this year.

He has played an important part in the Wallabies 2019 campaign being involved in the victory over the All Blacks and coming on against Fiji to combine will with Samu Kerevi in the centres.

Saviour World 

O’Connor credits the turnaround in his life to a wellness group for men called Saviour World.

“I was down and out until I met this underground movement of enlightened men,” O’Connor said, referring to Saviour World, a male-focused organisation committed to improving physical and mental health.

“I owe them everything. They are rebuilding us, giving us our purpose again. I try to push their message as much as possible. Anyone who is struggling with mental issues or depression or just might be a bit lost, seek it out.” 

Kerevi has been a long-time teammate of O’Connor and the centre has noiticed a marked improvement in the 29-year-old’s attitude and outlook.

“I had conversations with James before he even came back (into the squad) and the way he has changed in his heart and the way he is, it’s awesome,” said Kerevi. “To have gone what he has gone through and then come back, I am really happy for him.

“He never pushes anything on to others,” said Kerevi. “But he’s real passionate about it [Saviour World].”

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