A documentary series about a rugby team with mental health as the pillar

Blindside is a new documentary series about 6 rugby players who have come together to discuss their mental health journeys. Sport and physical exercise are proven to help with mental health issues. Rugby is a sport that is known for strong men that put their bodies on the line- however Blindside is trying to get rid of the stigma around men and mental health and move away from the phrase ‘manning up’. Each episode in the series focuses on a different player, their unique mental health journey and how the sport, along with opening-up about their experiences has helped them.

The stories shared by the men in Blindside, although different, have a common thread of loss: of relationships, of yourself and loss of loved ones, all due to poor mental health. Most of the men in the documentary have been bereaved by suicide or have attempted to take their own lives when struggling with their mental health. The Dodgers Sevens team have created an open and inclusive environment to act as a safe place for players who are struggling with their mental health, to encourage players to bring their true selves to the pitch.

The sporting world is slowly catching up to the importance of mental health, with more professional and famous athletes speaking out about their struggles- but there must be support at the grassroots level from the start. There are many charities and organisations to help in the hard and low times, but the documentary highlights the importance of a proactive approach in educating and raising awareness of these issues in these communities so that the dark times do not come. Blindside provides a message of hope that reaching out for support and opening-up will make your mental health journey easier and through the 6 interviews, it shows how through our darkest moments, we are never alone.