By Alesha Capone
Football star Majak Daw hopes that opening up about his battle with anxiety and depression in his autobiography helps others struggling with mental health.
Daw’s self-titled book, which he has penned in partnership with former sports journalist Heath O’Loughlin, was released this week.
The autobiography details Daw’s childhood in Egypt with his family, after they fled civil war in Sudan.
The family was granted refugee status and arrived in Australia when Daw was 11 years old.
Living in Wyndham Vale, Daw began his junior football with the Wyndham Vale Falcons and attended MacKillop College in Werribee.
He became the first Sudanese-Australian to be drafted to an AFL club when he was signed to North Melbourne in 2009.
Daw went on to play more than 50 games for the Kangaroos, making his AFL debut in 2013.
In the autobiography, Daw writes about the darker side of fame his sporting success brought about – the racism he has faced, his alcohol abuse and his suicide attempt in December, 2018.
In the autobiography, Daw writes that he realised that he did not actually want to die.
Daw underwent months of rehabilitation to return to the AFL as a player with Melbourne Football Club after fracturing his pelvis and hips, and fracturing his back.
Daw said writing the book was “cathartic” but it was also hard to write some parts.
“I was terrified about sitting down and opening up about certain chapters of my life for this book,” he said.
But Daw said that in doing so, he wanted to show other people with mental health issues that is worth fighting for their futures.
“I hope those who are struggling will read this and realise there’s always light out of the darkness,” he said.
Majak is available in print and as an audio book. Details: bit.ly/2Wwq4K1
For assistance contact SuicideLine Victoria’s 24-hour helpline on 1300 651 251 or visit suicideline.org.au/
