Olympian Named QLD Mental Health Ambassador

Olympian Named QLD Mental Health Ambassador

11/04/2019

Olympic gold medalist and world record holding swimmer Libby Trickett has been appointed Queensland’s Mental Health Ambassador, tasked with raising awareness of the issue within the workplace.

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said the Queensland swimming great was the perfect person for the role, having personally experienced her own mental health challenges.

“Like so many Queenslanders, the former darling of Australian swimming has experienced mental health issues first hand, suffering depression after she stepped away from the pool in 2010,” Ms Grace said.

“Libby will share her story through a short film and in person as she helps us to raise awareness of the important role work colleagues can play for those who are struggling.

“She’ll be speaking to Queensland workers about her recovery, the help she got on the way, and the positive impacts of exercise on recovery from mental ill-health.

“Libby will also be encouraging people to have the courage to tell someone they are not well - and that it’s ok to not be ok and to ask for help.”

Ms Trickett’s appointment is part of the government’s Mental Health at Work Action Plan, also launched today. The action plan sets out to make Queensland workplaces safer and healthier through good work design practices that enhance mental health.

Ms Trickett said she wanted others to learn from her experience.

“It was a very difficult time for me and it takes a lot of courage to finally admit you’re not okay,” she said. “I felt really isolated, I felt very lonely during that time, but it was the support and the love and the connection that I had with my family and friends which allowed me to push through it.

“Every day in our lives we should connect with people, be it family, friends or work colleagues, and just check to see if they are okay. With that, we can step through the journey together.”

WorkCover Queensland have released a short video on Libby's story

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