By Russell Bennett
Wayne Schwass is many things to many people – a premiership hero, a team mate, a son, a father, a husband and a friend.
He’s also a long-time sufferer of depression – a battle he kept secret, even from his family, since he was first diagnosed in August 1993.
Schwass starred for North Melbourne and Sydney between 1988 and 2002 winning multiple club best-and-fairest awards, a premiership, and All Australian selection.
He ventured out to the Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs recently to talk about his life in footy, but more importantly – and most passionately – he spoke from his heart about the battle of his life.
Schwass, now a highly respected radio commentator on Triple M and presenter of Off The Bench TV, had his audience on the edge of their seats, despite a senior footy clash taking place just a few metres away.
He spoke about how, between 2010 and 2014, the number of Australians lost to suicide more than doubled the national road toll.
“We continue to invest, we continue to educate, we continue to challenge the community and individually about the importance of road safety and so we should,” he said.
“(But) I can’t stand by, in my limited capacity with the lived experience and platform that I’ve got, and not do something about educating people about the issues of mental illness.
“Those brave people (we’ve lost to suicide) have put up an incredible fight.
“I’ve had many of those situations where I’ve thought about the same alternative – a decision that would have been permanent and irreversible.
“I’m not proud to say that but I’ve been in that position many times.
“We need to educate ourselves and we need to have open, non-judgemental conversations about mental illness.”
Schwass spoke about how he hid his illness for more than a decade from everyone close to him – his friends, his family, his team mates, his coaches, his supporters. Everyone.
“Why? Because I was petrified,” he said.
“I was ashamed.
“I felt that I was fundamentally weak and flawed because I was suffering from a mental illness.
“I made a conscious decision every single day, from being diagnosed in August of 1993 at the age of 24, to sell my health at the expense of living a lie and pretending to everybody else that I was OK.
“When you live with a mental illness and you’re not getting help, these things suck the life out of you.
“Footy is hard enough when you’re fit and healthy and on top of the game, but put into that an insidious illness that is taking away your enjoyment, your self-worth, your confidence, your belief, your courage, your emotion.
“I talk passionately, openly and honestly because I want people to know.
“If there’s anybody in the room dealing with this right now, or anybody who will deal with these illnesses moving forward, don’t wait 12 years.
“Approach your emotional health the same way as we do physically.”
Having sought help in 2005, Schwass has continued to shine a light on the mental health cause to mainstream Australia and is the founder of The Sunrise Foundation.
Though it no longer operates, its aim was to deliver education programs addressing depression for young people.
“The reason that I’m passionate about this issue is that I’ve had lived experience so I understand the impact of mental illness and the impact it has on individuals,” he said.
“I also appreciate the impact that it has on those people caring for somebody who is living with a mental illness.”
For help, or for more information, visit www.beyondblue.org.au, or search for ‘Mindfull Aus. Stand up Against Stigma’ on Facebook.
Mindfull was founded by a south-eastern suburbs footballer Matt Runnalls, who has also suffered from a long battle with depression.
