Panel discussion on mental health risks on elite athletes

The mental health risks that elite athletes face has been brought back into focus after a Black Ferns player described having a breakdown after a series of derogatory comments about her were allegedly made by a coach. Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate says that she was told by her coach that 'she didn't deserve to be in the team', that he was 'embarrased for her', that she was 'only selected because she could play the guitar'. Ngata-Aerengamate, who's a teacher at Kataia College, said the coach asked her, 'what will your students think of you'? She says she "ended up going crazy" as a result how she was treated and struggled to even look herself in the mirror. We got in touch with former All Black and mental health advocate Sir John Kirwan and former Black Ferns captain, academic and deputy chair of the New Zealand Rugby Board, Farah Palmer, to discuss these issues. Nathan Rarere began by asking Dr Palmer whether she was surprised by Te Kura's claims.