Former NRL star James Graham has spoken candidly about his struggles with depression, revealing for the first time that he recently spent time in a mental health facility, during an emotional episode of his Bye Round podcast.
Opening up on the show, Graham admitted the past year has taken a heavy toll on him.
“This last 12 months has been particularly hard… not many people know about this,” he said, offering a rare glimpse into the challenges he has faced away from the public eye.
The former Canterbury Bulldogs and St George Illawarra Dragons forward went on to disclose that what was perceived publicly as a holiday was in fact a deliberate step toward recovery.
“I made the decision to go to rehab,” Graham revealed. “When I said I was away on holidays, I was a week in a facility for mental health. Which wasn’t long enough.”
Graham’s admission underlined the seriousness of his struggle and the ongoing nature of mental health recovery, acknowledging that a short stay was only the beginning of addressing deeper issues. His honesty has struck a chord across the rugby league community, where discussions around mental wellbeing have become increasingly prominent in recent years.
By sharing his experience so openly, Graham has added his voice to the growing movement within the NRL advocating for greater awareness and support around mental health, reinforcing the message that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
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