Mental Health Special: Alan Quinlan opens up

"I covered four matches this weekend,” sighs a weary Alan Quinlan. “It’s very enjoyable, but God is it tiring!”
Even for the most die-hard rugby supporter, that’d be a tough gig. Quinlan has been working as a pundit on ITV, as well as scribing his usual newspaper columns, during the Rugby World Cup. But the ex-Munster and Ireland flanker has taken time out to talk to Hot Press about mental health issues. He has, of course, spoken eloquently on the subject in the past…
“I’m far from being an expert in the field of mental health – actually, probably not in the field of rugby, either!” he laughs. “But I just try to share my own experience, and I really believe that understanding yourself, and sharing with others, is a good thing. You get a better understanding of the whole subject; by talking about it, you realise that it’s very common for people to feel unwell in themselves, and that there’s ways in which people can help themselves – and can change.”
It is no surprise that a man who racked up 212 appearances for his club – as well as earning 27 caps for the national side – believes that doing the right things in terms of physical health is a key part of addressing concerns with mental well-being.
“Exercise and nutrition can play a big role,” he says. “Even for those who are feeling well in themselves, it can be brilliant to develop good habits in both those areas. If you can have a positive approach to things like exercise and nutrition, you’re putting good fuel in the car, so to speak.
“By no means does it mean you won’t get stressed or anxious,” he adds, “or that you might not suffer from depression. It simply means that you have better mechanisms to cope, and are better equipped when something does happen – which, let’s face it, is part of the ups and downs of life.”
For Alan, there are other parallels between physical health and mental health.
“It’s not always an easy transition to make, to mental fitness,” he explains. “You have to work at it: just like physical fitness, being mentally fit is something that takes ongoing effort. Even for people who feel well in themselves, they can benefit by being more conscious of what’s going on in their lives; what could be better; whether they need more exercise; are they boozing too much at the weekend?; are they eating too much crap food? – and so on. In short, are they happy?”
Despite having previously suffered from anxiety, it was an incident in 2009 that was pivotal for the man affectionately known as Quinny. Banned for 12 weeks after making contact with the eye area of Leinster’s Leo Cullen, a dream selection for the Lions tour to South Africa went up in smoke. In the ensuing, bitterly unwanted hiatus, Alan was forced to confront some of his demons.
“It was obviously a pretty traumatic event,” he confesses. “I was devastated. But gradually I realised that it was something I could learn from; it was a catalyst for me to make some changes. I’d always been a worrier, and too much anxiety made me depressed; I realised that I needed to get a hold of that, to learn more, and to have better tools to deal with it going forward. The ban was a bit of a kick in the backside to do exactly that.”
While he acknowledges that it wasn’t easy, seeking help was a huge step towards his recovery. “It’s difficult for anyone to say they’re not feeling good, or their mental health isn’t right,” he acknowledges. “That’s why people trudge along, until it gets worse and worse, and they find themselves backed into a corner that they can’t get out of. But I think it’s very rewarding, and fulfilling, if you can do something about it.
“From the people that I’ve spoken to, suffering from depression and anxiety brings a lot of self-analysis, and they don’t see the worth in themselves. When you get to the point where you can control that negativity, you begin to see your own value again.”
And talking through whatever issues are ailing you is often the best way to get back on track.
“It’s so important, if you feel overwhelmed or under pressure, to chat to someone who can help take the weight off your shoulders,” Alan says, simply. “Sometimes, a problem can cause you to feel a lot worse than you should, in reality; when you ask for some assistance in dealing with it, you can find a strategy of how to cope. You then learn to do that yourself, as the results show.
“Being aware really is the key,” he concludes. “If you’re aware of your mental health, then you’re thinking about it, and not letting things grow into bigger problems. That makes all the difference in the long run.”