North Melbourne Majak Daw speaks about bridge jump suicide attempt

Majak Daw went from having by no means seen a soccer in his life to changing into the primary Sudanese-Australian participant to be drafted by an AFL membership when North Melbourne picked him in 2010.

The now 30-year-old made his AFL debut when he performed his first senior recreation in opposition to the Brisbane Lions in spherical 4 of the 2013 season.

Daw struggled to determine himself as an everyday participant on the elite degree till the 2018 season when he loved a breakout marketing campaign. He was switched to defence the place he flourished, making 18 senior appearances to achieve his 50-game profession milestone.

Nonetheless, whereas all the pieces seemed to be going nice for the highly-respected participant, what many didn’t realise is what Daw was attempting to masks.

In a uncooked interview with Hamish McLachlan for the Herald Solar, the footy star bravely revealed his psychological well being struggles which noticed him try to take his personal life 3 times.

Daw was a refugee when he immigrated to Australia in 2003. He was solely seven years outdated when he fled his native Sudan in the midst of the night time together with his mum and siblings through the nation’s second civil struggle in 2000.

His father stayed behind, earlier than later becoming a member of his household once they all migrated to Australia three years later.

When arriving at Melbourne airport they have been handed a welcome package deal and in it was a Collingwood scarf. That’s when Daw bought his first style of footy.

However in between the celebrity and success that adopted, he was battling a bunch of demons, abusing alcohol, struggling racial abuse and infrequently arguing together with his then girlfriend Emily McKay, with whom he now co-parents son Hendrix.

“Within the again finish of 2018, I used to be consuming quite a bit, truly approach an excessive amount of. There have been quite a lot of issues happening that I used to be attempting to masks,” Daw informed the Herald Solar.

He spoke of the second he and Emily went to a home occasion in October that 12 months and he started arguing with somebody over “inappropriate” issues that they had stated to her. It made him so indignant he went residence and began consuming, including that it was the heartbreaking second he first tried to take his personal life.

He defined he was mentally “very troubled and couldn’t disguise it anymore”. Nonetheless, issues spiralled additional uncontrolled the night time after Emily informed him she was pregnant.

The pair had a battle and he bought drunk at a barbecue that was being held on high of his house constructing.

Closely intoxicated, he tried to take his life twice. He despatched Emily a textual content message, telling her that he was “sorry” however that he “couldn’t keep round any longer”.

However throughout his try, he realised he made the mistaken resolution, telling the Herald Solar he “regretted it immediately”. Fortunately, he survived.

“I really like my life now. It took going by way of these experiences to understand simply how stunning easy on a regular basis issues are,” he stated.

Daw stated his mother and father had no thought about his psychological well being battles, saying the information left them shattered.

Now, nearly three years because the footy star suffered a number of accidents from the try, he made his AFL return on August 1 final 12 months.

“I’m glad. I benefit from the easy issues in life now. I’m at peace. I really like taking part in footy, and I really like having the chance to nonetheless do what I do.”

Daw has additionally launched his first e book — Majak by Majak Daw with Heath O’Loughlin — which can be out there in print and audiobook from August 3.

If you happen to want assist in a disaster, name Lifeline on 13 11 14 or MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78,

For additional details about despair, contact beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or speak to your GP, native well being skilled or somebody you belief.