Society needs to break down mental health stigma, says CA Sports Science Chief

Mental health in cricket is becoming one of the more talked about issues as players like Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell and Will Pucovski all being vocal about their mental health issue and taking a break from cricket. It is such an important aspect of the game that is not paid much attention to by society. Cricket Australia's Sports Science Chief Alex Kountouris believes that mental health needs to be given more importance and feels that it is a very courageous thing for people to come out and speak about their mental health.

"We genuinely think they are the real models," Kountouris told cricket.com.au.

"I know we often portray sports people as role models for the way they perform on the field, but these three players - and the players before them, male and female - who have come out and spoken about it, I think we should be holding them up as role models," he further added.

"It's what society needs, to talk openly about it and break down some of the stigma associated with it. Hopefully, it helps people in the wider community, particularly younger people, who are experiencing troubles to go out and talk about it," he asserted.

CA and ACA have decided to come out with an education program to teach the sportspersons about dealing with and recognizing mental health issues. This will help the players be more aware of it and will help them be more vocal in case they feel like speaking about the issue they are facing.

"I think what's changed is that people are talking about it, more openly and honestly. There might be more scrutiny now, it's very hard to know exactly because it's difficult to keep stats on these indicators and data from twenty years ago is probably not going to be very accurate anyway," Kountouris said.

"But what has improved is players' acceptance to talk about it, and to be open and honest about it. If they're struggling, they ask for help and then often make that public - that's what's changed," he concluded.