'Let's talk about it every day': GI takes his message to Tamworth

When Greg Inglis launched the Goanna Academy three years ago, the legendary Kangaroos and Maroons centre had the mental health of regional and Indigenous communities front of mind.

That’s why, in line with Mental Health Awareness Month, Inglis linked up with the NRL Community State of Mind team and travelled to Tamworth in north-west NSW in October.

“When I first sat down and came up with the business plan, one of the major focuses was to not just tailor it to the major cities,” Inglis told NRL.com.

“There are still major health inequalities for people living outside the capital cities and for people in most regional towns, when they do reach out for help, it could be between 3-9 months wait to see somebody.

Taking the programs to regional areas is a lot of work but there are so many rewards that come off the back of it because we know we could save or change a life

Greg Inglis

“Tamworth has a high population of Indigenous people and we know Indigenous communities are more at risk in the space of mental health and suicide - but we don’t talk about it enough.

“That’s why we visit these places, we provide them with tools and try to get them to take a step in the right direction rather than heading down the opposite end of the scale.

“At the Goanna Academy we aim to open up the conversation and talk about these numbers and that’s what the whole month was about.”

Running a ‘Mind & Movement’ clinic for more than 200 local kids at Scully Park last week, one of the academy’s core focuses is using footy and activities to translate messages about mental health and wellbeing.

Having grown up on the Mid-North Coast and spent time in Tamworth as a kid, the five-time Indigenous All Star said he enjoys travelling to regional areas as he can often see himself in the young aspiring athletes he meets.

“I do have a connection to Tamworth because my dad and his siblings were all born there,” Inglis said.

“When you go around to regional areas and see any kid kicking a footy around that does remind me of myself because that's all I did as a kid.

“As soon as we had any spare time we’d grab a footy or anything that’s shape resembled a footy and stay outside playing until dark.

“That’s why we focus on movement so much with our youth programs because the more you can move instead of sitting around all day, the happier you will be.”

The Goanna Academy also took its program to the wider community of Tamworth and, in conjunction with Wayahead, ran a mental health session for adults, inspired by this month’s theme ‘Let’s Talk About It’.

Inglis said the session provided an opportunity to break down barriers and spark conversation by sharing his own battles with depression and mood swings, which led to a diagnosis of Bipolar II after he retired in 2019.

“By sharing my story and experiences with mental health I can give them tips about how to handle themselves if certain things come up - to go and seek help and to talk about it,” he said.

“Like when things get overwhelming or too much you can just take a step back, breathe and check in with yourself.

“And I understand the message is stronger in mental health month but we really should be doing these things every day. Looking after yourself and making sure that you’re OK first.

“So let’s talk about it every day and make sure we’re checking in on each other and being good listeners.”