The 25-year-old Gloucester Rugby winger gave a detailed description on how a variety of mental health support is made widely available within his club and how much social media can affect some players’ performance levels.
After a bleak 18 months dealing with a global pandemic mental health has arguably never been highlighted more within modern society and demand for support has skyrocketed.
According to mentalhealth.org.uk 1 in 6.8 people experience mental health problems in the workplace and yes, that includes professional athletes.
Mental health affects men and women differently for example men are less likely to access psychological therapies. Just 36% of men decide to take up mental health therapy.
When asked about the mental health support structure around Gloucester Rugby Club, Thorley replied, “We’ve got a pastor that comes in, so he talks to the guys if they want to and their families. There’s also a club doctor and she’s someone who you can speak to if you want to talk about mental health and issues related to that.
“We have a thing called the Rugby Players Association and through that there’s mental health provision. There are 24-hour anonymous helplines that players can call and get in touch with if they have any problems.”

Thorley who has been playing for Gloucester since 2015 expressed his thoughts on how the press and social media impact himself and others on and off the pitch.
Having also been called up to the England Six Nations squad by Head Coach Eddie Jones in 2019 and 2020; he is more than aware of the wider public scrutiny that comes with playing for your country.
“In terms of criticism from the media and in a more general sense; maybe you had a bad performance, and you are being slated by fans on social media and as well as the press I guess the main support then is your teammates.
“From the context of Gloucester, I know if you have a s**t game then often they’ll be the ones who will come in the Monday afterwards and say to you just because you had one bad performance doesn’t make you a bad player.
“I think the support comes organically from within the rugby team and obviously your family is a big help as well.
“Some guys have amazing support from their families and others have less, so I think that’s interesting the way you’ll see the guys who maybe have a bit less support from back home relay on the rugby club a lot more.”
Follow the UoG Park Life Sport Liveblog to catch the latest action here
The London-born player admitted on having his fair share of injuries in the past which has affected him psychologically.
He outlined the true difficulties on dealing with injuries and reiterated how many players past and present have been or are going through mental stumbling blocks.
“Rugby is a very demanding sport” he stated.
“You wouldn’t believe some of the stories from some of my teammates and friends about the struggles they’ve had mentally, so I think that helpline is used quite a lot.
“I can’t remember the exact stat but the last time I saw it I think it was 1 in 8 players currently playing have used the helpline at some stage in their career.
“If you think of that in the context of the Premiership so four-hundred odd players is a big old number.
“So, there is increasingly a lot of these support systems in place, and I still think it can go further but rugby is incredibly macho so I think some guys will thrive in that and then some guys don’t.”
So is rugby as a sport doing enough to psychologically support individuals during times of struggle. Well, according to Ollie Thorley the stigma and support around mental health has no doubt improved over the years he’s been at the club.
However, he did follow on to say more work can always be done in what is such an imperative topic that should never be ignored.
“I still think there’s a way to go to allow a multitude of different characters to enjoy rugby as much as they possibly can and compared to when I started playing the support around mental health has improved massively.”
With Thorley only being twenty-five he’s making it his aim to be a regular within the England national team and even looking towards being named in the illusive British and Irish Lions.
Nevertheless, all in good time though for a level-headed rugby player who certainly has time on his hands.