00:00 But I think it's just about, yeah, first looking at yourself, but then also making sure that
00:08 we educate ourselves better. We have these difficult conversations that I think people
00:12 sometimes are scared to have.
00:14 Mental health is one of the most important issues in society nowadays, and there is always
00:18 a focus on how to cope with difficult times and look after ourselves. But it's not just
00:22 about ourselves and our relationships with other people, some of the most impactful aspects
00:26 of maintaining good mental health. The Welsh players think being open and honest is the
00:30 first key step into forming those important relationships.
00:34 I think for me and my partner it would just be about them knowing as much about me as
00:39 possible and as much about what I'm thinking and how I'm feeling as possible, and just
00:44 being open and honest with those. And I think that when you've been with someone a long
00:48 time or you get to know someone, I think even in this changing room now where we've been
00:53 with each other a long time, we can be open and honest about those things because it's
00:57 going to benefit yourself but also the other person or the group. And yeah, that would
01:03 be my answer, just being as open and as honest as possible so that the other person can know
01:09 as much about you and what's going on in your life as possible.
01:13 Thousands of kids around Wales will watch the team play and idolise the players. They
01:17 can't escape the fact that they are important role models for young people. But even superstar
01:21 footballers have role models of their own who they look up to and aspire to be like.
01:26 You talk about role models to pick people you think are similar to you, and I think
01:32 that's why we've probably all gone down the route of looking at footballers or dads in
01:36 that sense. But if I look at my life now, probably the biggest role model I have in
01:39 my life is my wife. We spend pretty much every spare bit of time I have together and I think
01:46 she makes me a better person. And I get to speak about any issues that I have going on,
01:51 but even talking about stuff like that, just getting it off my chest, it goes a long way.
01:55 And yeah, I'm very grateful to have her in my life.
01:59 Our own mental health is important, but that means we need to help look after the people
02:03 around us. The players say it's not as easy as just looking after ourselves, but also
02:08 looking at our behaviour and the behaviour of the people closest to us.
02:12 I think if you see a behaviour that you don't think is correct or right or is inappropriate,
02:18 I think it's quite pivotal really that you kind of pull them up on it. I think if my
02:24 friends were acting a certain way out in public or in their relationships or whatever it may
02:30 be, I think if I don't want to be associated with that type of thing, I'd definitely pull
02:34 them up on it. And yeah, I think you're only as good as the company you keep. And I think
02:40 yeah, you obviously want people around you, how you want to behave and how you want to
02:45 be seen to the world. And I think, yeah, it's very important.
02:48 David Brooks, Ben Davis and Joe Morrell are footballers. They do a great job on the pitch
02:51 for Wales, but it's easy to forget that everyone struggles with mental health. They encourage
02:56 all of us to take a minute to talk to our friends and family and look after ourselves
03:00 and our loved ones. James Beach Watkins, Local TV.
03:03 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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