Grant Hackett’s Family, Addictions & Mental Health

Almost 17 years after winning Olympic Gold Grant Hackett made news headlines for very different reasons.  According to the Courier Mail report that mother Margaret & older brother Craig Hackett attempted a family intervention for Grant’s erratic behaviour. Later the family called the police after the former swimming champion disappeared.  His Father Neville issued a public call for help to find his son, saying: “He’s mentally disturbed and needs urgent help”. His brother Craig who dubbed Grant as “dangerous” to the media also stated that his brother had suffered a “mental breakdown.”

Grant Hackett’s Instagram Image

Grant posted an image of himself on Instagram with a very cut black eye accusing his brother Craig of being an angry man.  However it’s not clear when the photograph may have been taken as there was no eye injury when he was found and arrested last Wednesday 15^th Feb 2017 on the Gold Coast.

Brother claims addiction has changed Grant Hackett

After the arrest Craig told the media, “He’s a danger to himself. He’s a danger to the community,” saying, “The Grant Hackett that Australia fell in love with, they can still have that affection towards him,” he said. “This is not Grant Hackett. This is a completely different person. I don’t know this person, my mum and dad don’t know this person. He’s there in body, but he’s not there in mind, soul or spirit.”

The former swimming champion has had previous struggles with addiction. In 2014 Hackett spent five weeks in rehab to overcome a sleeping pill dependency after being filmed walking around the Crown Towers Melbourne in his underwear claiming to be looking for his son. Hackett was falling apart after not coping with a bitter divorce to Candice Alley with whom he has 2 children.  Westpac dropped Hackett in 2015 after the incident. There was a drunken incident on a flight in 2016 which saw Grant Hackett being interviewed by Federal police.  The incident happened ten days after Hackett failed to make the relay team headed to the Rio Olympics.

L to R – Happier times Brothers Craig Hackett & Grant Hackett

The Daily Telegraph states that Craig who is older by six years has been trying to help his brother through various addictions. Craig who works as a physiotherapist has always been the guy to talk to in the family in times of Crisis.

Addictions

Unfortunately the Hackett’s story isn’t uncommon.  Many families around Australia are being ripped apart by addictions.

While the most common addiction types are:  alcohol, gambling, sex, computers, food and drugs, we have seen a surge in Ice addiction in recent years in this country making headlines and keeping our hospital’s emergency services busy around Australia.  Ice addicts usually become violent and behaviour becomes erratic. Fueled by drugs, the emotions of an addict can quickly change making relationships difficult and strained with everyone including family and friends.  The addict is no longer fully in control but they are enslaved to their addiction.

It takes a strong loving family to stage an intervention to help those they care about and love. The Hacketts have become desperate to help Grant overcome his problems. Addictions can lead to further mental health problems.  We have to take good care of our mental health.

Humans can easily lose their peace when something’s not right.  We can become sad, angry, confused and go through a whole range of emotions.  The bible teaches that our soul is where our , spirit, intellect, will, emotions, conscience and so on resides.

Losing our minds to addiction is an option. Jesus said, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul?”

We also need to manage our anger very carefully. “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.”  – Mark Twain

A Better Alternative

To overcome problems and worries seek the help of a qualified mental health professional who are trained to be unbiased listeners. Our hurts can hold us captive if we don’t deal with them. Addictions and substance abuse can appear to be taking the pain away but only serve to mask our wounds temporarily.  When unresolved problems are kept bottled up inside eventually they manifest outwardly through our actions and behaviours.  We need to confide in someone to let the pain out.

It takes a very strong person to say, “I need help” or “I’m not coping.”  Getting help is the first step towards taking responsibility for developing and growing our own emotional maturity.  For some this may mean ongoing counselling.

aifc blogs relating to addictions:

Taking A Closer Look At Addictions

Crystal Meth (ICE) Addiction Ripping Families Apart In Australia

Sources:

Daily Telegraph

The Courier Mail

News.com.au

Where to Get Help in Australia

Talk to your doctor who can point you in the right direction.

Visit CCAA to search for a Christian counsellor near you.

Visit ACA to search for a counsellor near you.

Free 24/7 Counselling Services

Lifeline on 13 11 14

Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800

Would you like to become a qualified counsellor to help those struggling with addiction and mental health problems?

If so contact aifc Monday to Friday between 9am to 5pm on 2 6242 5222 or on 1300 721 397. Drop us a line on the contacts page or fill out the enquiry form below.

The words of Isaiah were spoken by Jesus in Luke 4:18 –  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,”