Sports Broadcaster Finds a New Voice

Date: March 8, 2012 / Posted by control

By Paddy Sweeney, The Narrogin Observer, 8 March 2012 –

As an ABC sports broadcaster, Glenn Mitchell had what many would class as a dream job.

Jet setting around the world covering four Olympics, four Commonwealth Games, two Paralympics and international cricket, Mr Mitchell was also the voice of AFL and WAFL broadcast matches across Perth.

While everything pointed towards him having a charmed life, Mr Mitchell’s last five years in his position at the ABC became much harder due to his battle with mental illness, a battle which saw him attempt to take his own life in June last year.

With sports broadcasting behind him, Mr Mitchell has turned to encouraging others to seek help in their fight against mental illness.

Speaking at a One Life Suicide Prevention Strategy seminar in Katanning and Wagin, Mr Mitchell touched on the importance of changing the stigma associated with mental illness, especially in males.

“The biggest killer in Australia of males under the age of 44 is suicide,” he said.

“Having a mental illness is no different to having asthma or diabetes, which you also need medical attention for. We need to break and get rid of the negative innuendo with admitting you have a mental illness.”

For Mr Mitchell, life is back on track after being diagnosed with bi-polar type 2 in September last year.

“Being accurately diagnosed last year has changed my life for the better,” he said.

“I may be eight months unemployed and will never return to sports broadcasting, but my life is better than ever and hitting rock bottom forced me to get treatment.”

Mr Mitchell encouraged people who suffer from a mental illness to seek help and talk to people close to them.

To learn more about the One Life Suicide Prevention Strategy, visit mcsp.org.au.