Former NRL star Darius Boyd will be in Bundaberg next week to talk to students about mental health as part of the Mayor Chaplaincy Breakfast 2022.
The ex Brisbane Broncos player has had his fair share of struggles, retiring from the game in 2020 to focus on his personal life.
Now, Darius is a mental health advocate and is attached to the Broncos Resilience Program, promoting proactive corporate and community wellbeing.
Next week he will chat to local students in his role as guest speaker at the Bundaberg Multiplex breakfast event, which raises money for the work school chaplains do across the region.
“I always enjoy the opportunity to share, raise awareness and hopefully help others in a meaningful way,” Darius said.
“I am looking forward to speaking about positive and proactive wellbeing with some simple but important strategies that we can all implement.”
Darius said his own experiences in life had led him on a path of education and mentorship.
“Mental health has impacted myself since I was a young boy, with my mother being diagnosed with major depression,” he said.
“Years later I had my own struggles with depression and ever since I have been determined to make change for myself and the wellbeing of others.”
Darius said having open conversations with students was an important factor in destigmatising mental health.
“It's vital to have these conversations as early as possible,” he said.
“Understanding that struggles and setbacks are normal and that there is so much support and guidance out there if you are willing to accept it.”
Darius supports local chappies
The Mayor Chaplaincy Breakfast 2022 promotes mental health and wellbeing while raising funds for school chaplains.
Local school chaplains help to bring hope to the region's youth through their one-on-one services.
Through positive and supportive relationships they help young people with everyday life matters, as well as the more critical issues like substance abuse, relationship issues, family breakdown, depression and low self-esteem.
The breakfast will be held at the Bundaberg Multiplex, 1 Civic Avenue, on Thursday 11 August from 6.30 am.
Limited tickets are still available for the event find out more and book here.
