A new video series being released this afternoon will encourage male rugby players to be "more vulnerable" with both current and former All Blacks sharing their personal stories to drive the message home.
"Being Men" has been made by New Zealand Rugby in their quest to challenge gender stereotypes and encourage men to open up about their mental health and wellbeing.
NZR Respect and Responsibility project manager Eleanor Butterworth told TVNZ1's Breakfast this morning the series was about adding to society's changing view of mental health.
"We've had people like John Kirwan out there being vulnerable for a while but now we're seeing players using their own platforms like TJ Perenara to talk about their beliefs and opening up," Butterworth said.
"So I think the change has been coming but I think now you can be really strong on the field and you can love rugby but you can also experience that whole range of human emotion and we should all be able to feel like we can express it."
NZR Education and Wellness manager Dr Nathan Price said he was "moved" watching the series.
"To see them do it down the barrel of a camera and be completely vulnerable is nothing short of amazing.
"When you watch them, you're like, 'woah, that's incredible' - to hear those guys speak that way about people they love, the struggles they've gone through and the mental health or issues they've had and how they've overcome that."
The series will go live online this afternoon and also be taken into schools and communities as an educational resource.
SHARE ME