“I think it is vital to speak up about mental health. Regardless of whether you are having a good day or feeling down, it is so important to address how you are feeling on a daily basis”
My name is Hannah Russell, I am a British Paralympic Swimmer, and I compete in the S12 classification; for those athletes who have a visual impairment. My greatest achievement to date is becoming Double Paralympic Champion at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. I also just won a bronze medal in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.
I think it is vital to speak up about mental health. Regardless of whether you are having a good day or feeling down, it is so important to address how you are feeling on a daily basis. Identify those people who you consider to be in your close support network and make sure you communicate, seek support, and address a situation if you are not feeling okay. One small conversation could make the biggest difference to a person’s day or life; as it did mine back in 2019 when I struggled with my mental health.
2019 for me was a really difficult year. I was suffering from anxiety and depression, and it was my decision to take a step back and focus on my mental health, well-being, and self-care. It was really important for me to get this balance right in order to achieve my outcomes for 2020/2021. I received support from British Swimming, and saw a therapist. I was unable to train for 3 months, but in March 2020 I was given the green light to return back to training.
I reconnected with family, friends and support networks. I took advice from sporting processionals around me. I graduated from university, and achieved my First Class honours in my BSc Sports Science degree which had been my purpose and focus throughout this period of time. I dedicated time to complete my degree; and I am very proud of this achievement. From my experience of anxiety and mental health focusing on my studies helped me develop resilience when faced with the National Lockdown. Sport helped me gain my confidence back as a person and an athlete but It was not until I took a break that I realised how much I missed my sport.
Speaking about mental health is extremely important, and it is great to see more athletes speaking out and requesting support when required. I have trained to become an ‘Athlete Mental Health Champion’ in my sport, in the hope to provide support to my fellow teammates, and raise further awareness of mental health in sport.
Taking the first step and identifying you need support is a very scary realisation. I would like to reach out to all those who might be suffering in silence to know that even though you might not realise it at the time, you have a huge support network around you. Find that person who you are closest too, and speak to them in a quiet setting. Know that the darkness around you will not last forever, and there is light at the end of the tunnel. Looking back to 2019, I never thought I would have the opportunity to race at my third Paralympic Games, yet here I am having just recently achieved 3 consideration times in the hope to be selected for the Tokyo Paralympic Games. If you believe, and have hope; you can get through anything in life; and achieve anything you set your mind to.