By Sophie Taylor
With mental health a continuous journey for all Australians, HCF Health Insurance Australia sat down with Yumi Stynes and Suncorp Super Netball players to have an open conversation about their mental health journeys.
The discussion delved into the different experiences of the four players involved, and the impacts towards each throughout their netball journey.
21-year-old Reilley Batcheldor had anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions in 2019 and 2022, with both injuries coming at a big cost to her mental health and self-confidence.
“I was in tears, knowing I would have to go through the exact same thing,” Batcheldor said.
“The (second) surgery was a lot more extensive… it really attacked my confidence.”
Veteran midcourter Kelsey Browne agreed.
“The doubt in your body can be huge,” Browne explained.
Browne is no stranger to mental health challenges, having been diagnosed with depression at age 16.
“The difficult thing was just not being able to verbalise how I was feeling,” Browne said.
“The thought of going to training was too overwhelming, I was having a lot of anxiety around showing up and being around people.”
For Browne, that thought process also came with a lot of guilt.
“There's thousands of girls who want to be in your position and you can't get up to go to training,” she said.
“That thought process really got me in a funk.”
Outside expectations have played a significant role in GIANTS goal shooter Jo Harten’s netball journey.
“Two weeks before the 2018 Commonwealth Games, I was in floods of tears in my apartment in Sydney saying I wasn't good enough to represent my country, England,” Harten said.
“To step out day after day in front of TV cameras, 10,000 people in the stadium all willing you to do well is a certain level of expectation.
Harten was frank about how that month in her life changed her as a person.
“The change that happened in my mental health in the space of four weeks, one month, it was huge,” she said.
“I’m a lot older and a lot wiser now. But there are so many different ways to deal with that pressure now.”
NSW Swifts midcourter Allie Smith was open with her challenges with anxiety and negative self-talk.
“I got to a point where I didn't think that I was good enough or nor I was ever going to be good enough as a netballer, but also a person,” Smith said.
“Over the years I've built up a support network around me that just picks me up constantly.
“My parents and my family are my biggest supporters, but also I see a psychologist every fortnight just to make sure I'm checking in with my thoughts.”
Watch the full video below and get more information on important women’s health topics at HCF's Health Hub: hcf.com.au/health-agenda/women/strong
