MATTY'S MENTAL HEALTH MESSAGE Style's Mental Health Editor, Brad Gartland, chats to Matty Ashton, Rochdale-born professional Rugby League player for the Warrington Wolves and England Knights. Matty provides an invaluable insight into life as an athlete and highlights the importance of looking after our mental health. Why did I choose to interview a professional rugby league player about mental health? Athletes don’t go through any struggles, do they? Growing up, I made the following key misconceptions: I thought my dad was invincible; I believed he could handle anything out in front of him, and I thought he could handle it all on his own. Why did I think this? My dad always acted so positive, so why would he ever have a negative thought? He was also a rugby player. Whenever he got suffered a knock, he got back up and carried on and that’s how I thought he dealt with things mentally. His passing taught me that you should never take anyone’s mental state for granted and that athletes are humans too - something that this article can hopefully address. 20 | Rochdale Style
Watching sport, from grassroot to professional level and seeing an athlete in their best physical shape, can lead us to believe that they’re also in their best mental state too. Just because someone is at the top of their career, it doesn’t mean that they haven’t got any struggles. In fact, it’s extremely important that these people are aware how much help there is out there. We’re all human after all. Matty Ashton is a professional Rugby League player for the Warrington Wolves and England Knights. Before joining Warrington in the Super League, Matty was named Championship Young Player of the Year and was the leading try scorer in the Championship in 2019 with 23 tries in 22 games. As well as being in top physical condition, Matty is eager to express how important it is to look after his mental health, what
support systems are in place for athletes such as himself, and shares some advice for you, the reader – as you never know when you may need it. Matty has also raised over £1,500 for Andy’s Man Club, a male mental health charity, by completing the Yorkshire Three Peaks along with friends in December 2020 (pictured below).
