Family, Football and rethinking mental health

The two things I love most are family and football.

I am an ardent fan of my hometown team Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. in South Africa and Manchester United in the EPL. Despite my allegiance to the Red Devils, the active footballer I most admire is Son Heung-min, Captain of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and the Korean national team.

Beyond his obvious talent, I deeply respect his work ethic, humility, integrity, and sense of community. An all-round class act. Through my work* i’ve had the opportunity to witness his leadership off the field. One such area is Son using his influence to address the stigma on mental wellness. In a recent interview he spoke about mental health pressures.

This brings me to family. My cousin lost his battle to mental illness, taking his own life when we were in our late teens. We were close in age, great mates and I was devastated. However, “Boys don’t cry, be strong, move on” was the cultural norm. Men were socialised to avoid talking about their emotions or mental health challenges. While progress is being made to address this stigma, more is needed.

This week, AIA launched the Rethink Healthy campaign which challenges stereotypes and narrow depictions of health in Asia, ?advocating for new definitions of health that will encourage more people to live healthier.

For me, it’s about rethinking mental health and helping to break the stigma among my peers, where the topic rarely comes up. ?It is important to dispel the myth that seeking the help you may need is a sign of weakness, when in fact it shows courage and strength. Taking the first step, even if it is small, can make a big difference.

A few years ago, I faced my own mental health battles as a first-time entrepreneur during an unprecedented pandemic, compounded by prolonged separation from family.

Health is wealth, and it's personal—everyone has their unique health journey. Whether it's focusing on mental health, improving your diet, finding a better work-life balance, or any other health and well-being priority.??

While this campaign focusses on Asia. The health issues it raises are universal. If any of this resonates, or you have a differing view, please join the conversation and share your story.

*AIA sponsors Tottenham Hotspur and Son is a Brand Ambassador.

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