Did you know that one in four of Irish people will experience a mental health problem this year? And that 75 per cent of mental health difficulties emerge before the age of 25?
Talking about mental health as a young adult can be difficult, but it’s an issue that is crying out for our attention. Answering that call is Headstrong, a non-profit organisation supporting young people’s mental health in Ireland.
The charity’s Jigaw projects offer free, brief and youth-friendly mental health support to young people aged 12-25 and unite communities to listen to and support young people around Ireland.
Headstrong is now looking for Headstrong heroes to help change how Ireland thinks about youth mental health. To get involved with the Croke Park Charity Abseil or the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon on behalf of Headstrong, click here.
This week we caught up with Headstrong Hero Ashling Thompson, 24 year old star player with Milford Camogie Club in Co. Cork. You can check out the interview below.
Her.ie: How long have you been playing camogie?
Ashling Thompson: I started playing camogie when I was 6/7 years old.
Her.ie: When did you realise you were a gifted player?
AT: My family life was very much embedded in sport, being brought up to live, breathe and appreciate the dexterity and skill of camogie. As soon as I started playing sports I couldn’t stop. I inherited my athleticism from my mother and my skill for hurling from my father. So I suppose you could say that I am lucky in some sense as camogie came naturally to me all thanks to genetics. My automatic love for the sport was inevitable and since then it has become an obsession.
Her.ie: Does all the training and discipline around your sport help or hinder your mental health?
AT: The training and discipline around my sport most certainly helps my mental health. When I am physically active, my mind is distracted from daily stressors, freeing my mind and allowing me to think more creatively and avoid getting bogged down in negative thought patterns. Training is my way of escape. Discipline around my sport encourages me to have a positive outlook on life. It gives me a sense of achievement, a focus in life and the motivation to be the best person/athlete I can be. It gives me the practical and emotional support from friends, family and coaches. I can honestly say that without it I would not be where I am today.
Her.ie: You’ve been very open with your story regarding your mental health, could you describe in your own words for those who aren’t aware of it.
AT: I was involved in a serious car accident in 2009. Luckily I escaped with no broken bones or life threatening injuries as my car was completely written off. I was left with back and neck injuries and soon found out that I was facing a long road of recovery. My life started to fall apart; the emotional and physical scars became too much for me to come to terms with. I couldn’t accept the fact that sport was no longer an option. I couldn’t eat, sleep or even bear the thought of being left on the sideline. The internal trauma would soon reveal the external. I had lost a serious amount of weight and fell into a bad state of depression.
Although I attended physiotherapy twice a week, doctors and counsellors on weekly basis, nothing seemed to work for me. I wasn’t the person or the player I used to be. Three years of agony followed the accident; I just felt as if there was no way out, but part of me wasn’t ready to give up just yet. Then Frank Flannery took over Milford camogie in 2012 and little did I know that everything would change. He took the time to understand me as a person as well as a player. He understood and could relate to me outside the four white lines and that seemed to give me hope. The moment I knew he had my backing, everything started to fall into place. I no longer felt alone; there was light at the end of the tunnel. And that’s when my life changed dramatically for the better. It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears but I was finally back to being the player I once was.
Her.ie: How did you get the courage to share your story?
AT: When you are courageous enough to share your story, you soon find out that you are not alone. It is a slow process at times but it’s worth every minute. Shame no longer left me feeling small and powerless. Now, when I feel fear creeping in, I remind myself that it is not about me; it’s about the person that might hear my story and change their own life, one small step at a time.
Her.ie: What has the reaction been?
AT: The reaction has been thrilling. Many people with mental health issues tend to withdraw from family and friends. Therefore, by sharing my story, I have given many others a gateway to finding the courage to speak about their own issues without the worry of being judged or frowned upon. I have received messages from people of all ages, with males and females sharing their stories, making them feel that they can relate to mine and talk about their own experiences. It makes me feel that now I have a purpose in life and that my story may have changed someone else’s outlook. I love to make people feel inspired, and if I can make a difference in one person’s life, that’s success for me.
Her.ie: What’s the best advice you have ever been given regarding your mental health?
AT: The best advice I have been given is to value myself and treat myself with kindness and respect, and to avoid self-criticism and surround myself with good people. To constantly remind myself that I have been brought into this world for a good reason.
Her.ie: Do you believe that mental health is similar to physical health?
AT: Keeping physically fit means keeping mentally fit as well; finding healthy ways to deal with negative emotions such as anger, depression, fear, etc. and reinforcing the positive emotions and behaviours in my life. It means finding ways to communicate with loved ones, rather than bottling it all up inside and letting it simmer, and to regularly keep tabs on potentially rash decisions that may turn into something negative rather than something positive.
Her.ie: Why did you choose to be a Headstrong Hero and participate in the Croke Park Abseil?
AT: Becoming a Headstrong Hero will help break the stigma surrounding youth mental health. I chose to participate in the Croke Park Abseil because I have never experienced anything like it before and I have a major fear of heights. By participating in the abseil I will face the challenge and overcome my fear of heights, turning it into a positive force to overcome other challenges.
Her.ie: Who is you hero and why?
AT: My hero is Cristiano Ronaldo. His early life was shaped by hardship; his father often drank too much and eventually died in 2005. His home was a small tin-roofed shack that overlooked the ocean. At a young age he had an inevitable talent for soccer and went on to become one of the best soccer players that ever walked the earth. It is no secret that he spends his time and money donating to charity and helping those in need. As the saying goes “no one has ever become poor from giving”. Long story short, you create your own opportunities. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.
If you’re interested in becoming a Headstrong Hero, click here for more information.
