Married at First Sight Australia 2019’s Cameron Merchant has candidly opened up about his experience in a mental rehab facility after his cricket career ended.
Appearing on the podcast, Not An Overnight Success, Cam described feeling as though he had lost his “purpose” and “everything you wake up for in the morning.”
Content Warning: This article contains references to severe mental health issues.
“This cloud of emotions just drains you and you think: ‘What am I doing here? What am I supposed to be? All I’ve known is that’,” Cameron told host Gus Worland.
“I couldn’t put pants on, I was mentally and physically crippled. That was at a time when I was, you know, close to an end. This was not a great place,” he recalled.
Married at First Sight’s Cameron Merchant Found a New Life Goal While in Rehab
After checking himself into a mental health facility on the Gold Coast, Cameron decided the “only thing” that would help him through the struggles was aiming toward his goal to have a wife and children.
Cameron explained his life was previously focused on his professional sporting career for so long that he didn’t have any future plans.
“When a lot of sportsmen finish up their profession, that’s all they’ve known since they were a young kid. They’ve achieved that dream and then it’s gone, it’s done. There’s no fallback plan or idea of what’s going on past that,” he said.
He then recalled deciding on his new goal while in rehabilitation, explaining: “It was a line in the sand. It was, ‘okay, you’ve got two choices here. Either, you’re done or you’ve got an opportunity to still be happy’.”
Cam now shares his one-year-old son Ollie with his wife Jules Robinson, after meeting her during season six of Married at First Sight Australia.
If you or anyone you know is struggling and needs support, call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or Lifeline on 13 11 14, both of which provide trained counsellors you can talk with 24/7. You can also speak with someone confidentially at Headspace by calling 1800 650 890 or chat online here. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.
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