Australia Coach Celebrates Mary Fowler’s Courage in Mental Health Disclosure

Australia’s national women’s football coach, Joe Montemurro, commended forward Mary Fowler for her openness regarding her mental health struggles. Fowler recently shared her experiences with self-harm and suicidal thoughts in her book, Bloom, highlighting the pressures faced by professional athletes.

The 22-year-old, who plays for Manchester City, began experiencing suicidal thoughts at the age of 17 after relocating to France to join Montpellier. Feeling immense pressure to perform, Fowler struggled with her mental health in an unfamiliar environment, away from her family and unable to communicate in the local language.

Montemurro expressed admiration for Fowler’s courage in addressing her mental health challenges. “It’s a little bit of a sign of the pressures that professional athletes and professional sports people are under these days,” he stated on Monday. He emphasized the importance of open discussions around mental health, noting that more transparency can help alleviate some of the stigma associated with such issues.

“This is a perfect example of someone that’s been really courageous and been able to come out with her issues, deal with it, and know that there are people behind her backing her and wanting to do what’s best for her,” Montemurro added.

In her book, Fowler detailed a particularly dark moment when she was 20 years old and playing in England. She recounted nearly taking her own life, writing, “In that moment, I didn’t follow through. But I did sit there for most of the night pleading for anyone up above who would listen to please just take me.”

Fowler described self-harm as a negative coping mechanism, stating that it was a misguided attempt to manage her emotional pain. “Looking back on it now, it’s bizarre that I thought physically harming myself would feel better than dealing with my emotions, but I was young and didn’t know how to cope with the situation in front of me,” she reflected.

The young athlete, who made her international debut at the age of 15, acknowledged that she faced an identity crisis while trying to meet performance expectations in a challenging work environment.

Although Montemurro has excluded Fowler from the squad for upcoming friendlies against New Zealand on November 28 and December 2, 2023, he indicated that she is expected to return to action in January.

As the conversation around mental health in sports continues to evolve, Fowler’s candidness serves as a vital reminder of the importance of support and understanding for athletes facing similar struggles.