[Resurrected] Josh Schuster

[Disco]

I work in mental health and some of the commentary in this thread is dissapointing.

I wont be one to tell people how to express your thoughts but a good rule of thumb is to think "would I make the same comments if it was physical illness".

If you then read your comment and go 'yeah if I replaced mental illness with cancer I'd still be happy to post this' then fire away.

The perservering commentary especially amongst older generatations that mental ill health is some sort of cop out or excuse for lazyness is in itself a lazy cop out.

Wish Josh nothing but the best.

Hopefully one day he is back out killing it on the footy field but more importantly hope he can be happy and healthy in life.

 

[master blaster]

Blah blah blah

Geez I hope no one you know ever runs into any mental health issues. Your attitude would send them so much closer to the edge.

The fact that Bennett in his press conference refused to talk about him other than to say he is safe and getting all the help he needs should tell you something, unless you're completely tone deaf.

It's just football. If you need to pick on someone, go talk to your mirror tough guy.

Well said mate

 

[master blaster]

I work in mental health and some of the commentary in this thread is dissapointing.

I wont be one to tell people how to express your thoughts but a good rule of thumb is to think "would I make the same comments if it was physical illness".

If you then read your comment and go 'yeah if I replaced mental illness with cancer I'd still be happy to post this' then fire away.

The perservering commentary especially amongst older generatations that mental ill health is some sort of cop out or excuse for lazyness is in itself a lazy cop out.

Wish Josh nothing but the best.

Hopefully one day he is back out killing it on the footy field but more importantly hope he can be happy and healthy in life.

Well said Disco and good on you

 

[TJ55]

Disappear mate! We don’t need ignorant twats on Silvertails! Hope you feel good about your comments!

That blokes comment in regards to stepping out of the spotlight if he has mental health issues has got to be one of the most cooked takes ive heard, thats exactly what hes doing,ive never seen him running to Buzz and Bulldogs Ritchie wanting to be in the spotlight suggesting he spend the 600k on counselling tops it off, thick as pig **** type comments, disgusting

 

[LeonardCohen]

I feel for Josh. I actually think there's a good chance that his mental health is not affecting his football, rather his football is affecting his mental health, which could account for his 'stepping away'.

This is a kid who was highly touted and had the rugby league world at his feet. He was hyped up in all corners of the RL community from a very early age. It's almost like his future was decided for him well in advance of it actually happening. Imagine what that does for a young person in terms of how they process reality. His reality was stardom.

Unfortunately, stardom was a concept, not a reality. As it turns out, he is not the star we all thought he'd be. The skillset that worked a treat in the lower grades, only takes a player so far in first grade. Then, suddenly on the other side of 20 years of age, the body changes and it's no longer a lean athletic build, it's a body that struggles to shed weight no matter how much training, and an engine that doesn't lend itself to 80 minutes of first grade.

I think the reality for Schu as he's aged, he's grown away from a rugby league athlete in spite of his best efforts; something that no one could have predicted. Suddenly the stardom that was a fait accompli, is compromised. It's akin to a whole world crashing down on someone that is only 24 years of age; that's sad. It must be so frustrating waiting for that future that everyone predicted for him to suddenly happen, but his body is not keeping up its side of the bargain, no matter how he tries.

The media hype and subsequent scrutiny is in some ways culpable for the situation Josh finds himself in now. Very sad.

 

[LeonardCohen]

Far out, I hope Souths treats him a bit better than we did, if his mental health issues are continuing, and are clearly of such serious scale. It really seemed like we just ****ed him off, and left him on his own. I really hope that wasn't the case, but it looked that way.

Not having a go at you personally, but I think that's a bit unfair to our club. We paid him well, offered him big contracts, and gave him numerous mental health leave and support. He and his manager requested a 'fresh start'. He wasn't cast off. The club thought a bit of time away and a new environment might support his mental health, hence the release.

 

[Buck]

When someone needs help, nothing else matters other than the support & care of both those close to the individual, & those who are aware of their struggles. Just like other illnesses that knock some around more than others, the last thing anyone in this situation needs is ill-considered judgement. To a person, we should wish him nothing but good health & a speedy pathway back to his personal best.