Just last week, Western Bulldogs forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan tweeted about the theft of his car. The crash happened Monday afternoon on Bay Street, Port Melbourne. So it was no surprise that the 2020 No.1 draft pick shared his enthusiasm on Instagram. He uploaded a picture of his Toyota HiLux with registration CSI 601.
In his post, Ugle-Hagan said he was particularly irritated that most of the incident happened in front of witnesses during the day. On a personal level, he’s endured untold challenges over the past year, including time spent in a rehabilitation facility for mental health disorders. Ugle-Hagan discussed his struggles in an emotional and raw podcast that dropped late Sunday night. He courageously opened up about his struggle with suicidal ideation and the profound sense of loneliness he experienced.
Ugle-Hagan explained that in his time away from the game he was inundated with inundating thoughts. “There were times when I would think about, to be honest with you, just not even worth even living,” he admitted during the podcast. Further explaining his experience, he continued, “I went through a battle in which I didn’t want to leave the house. I hit rock bottom, and found basement.” This honest revelation goes some way to express the seriousness of his experiences and how the fear of them has shaped his life.
The forward mentioned that the noises around him contributed to his decision to seek help, saying, “All the noises actually sent me to a rehab facility for my mental health.” His experiences with mental health issues have shaped his work professionally in addition to his personal life. Unfortunately, Ugle-Hagan has seen a long season-stretch on the sidelines this season. The talented young playmaker has recently returned to training – with AFL club the Western Bulldogs. Now accepting that it will take weeks of intensive, dedicated work and attention before he can even be mentioned as a possible return candidate. He’s targeting one of the VFL’s pathway positions.
Despite all of these obstacles, Ugle-Hagan’s community and friendships have been essential to his recovery. He remarked, “When you are down you want to keep finding an upper. My upper was probably staying and hanging out with my mates and getting on the p**s and training with them as well.” He recognized that this approach lacked direction: “It just had no end goal. I didn’t have a game. I didn’t have anything.”
The timing of the alleged car theft is worrisome, as Ugle-Hagan continues to deal with mental health issues. The image he posted on social media features a portable triangle-shaped board from a Guzman y Gomez franchise, perhaps highlighting the everyday nature of life continuing despite personal struggles.
Ugle-Hagan is candid about his struggles with mental health. This is at once a beautiful and poignant reminder to reach out for help when the going gets rough. He’s certainly making progress with his recovery and rejoining the ranks of professional football. The hope is that his experiences will serve as examples to veterans and others going through similar struggles.
