- Jordan Kahu talks about life after football
- Reveals his personal struggles during the pandemic
- For confidential crisis support, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14
Former NRL star Jordan Kahu has opened up about his darkest days after his football career ended, the financial stress he faced and how he contemplated suicide.
Kahu, 33, who played 119 NRL games with the Broncos and Cowboys, ended his football career in 2020 after battling persistent injuries.
The talented New Zealand international set himself up as a videographer, but the COVID-19 pandemic put major financial pressure on his business – and the bills continued to pile up.
Kahu used his savings to keep his young family afloat, and didn’t discuss what he was going through with his wife Jess.
“I ate most of our savings that year (2020) just to pay the bills,” Kahu told the newspaper. Keegan and company podcast.
“The next year, when I started a business and tried to pay the same bills with nowhere near as much money as I was making from footy, it got to the point where we had no savings.”
Jordan Kahu has opened up about the mental demons he faced following his NRL career
Kahu revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic placed a significant financial strain on his family
‘I used almost all my pension money in that one year to keep my head above water. We were so lucky that my father let us live with them for a few years…
‘The hardest thing as a father is feeling like a provider for the family, and I felt like I couldn’t do that. And that was very hard to go through.’
At one point, things got so bad that Kahu considered committing suicide.
“It’s taken a huge toll,” he admitted, choking with emotion.
‘There were thoughts like, “I have my life insurance, will my children still get it if I kill myself?”
Kahu fought back tears and took a moment to collect himself.
“Those were the thoughts going through my head,” he said.
The former football star says his mental health improved when he started talking to his wife about the financial problems they were facing.
The former football star says things have improved since he started discussing his problems with his wife
He now goes out of his way to encourage others to talk about their own problems.
“I feel like when people fall into those dark holes that I’ve been in, you feel so alone and like no one understands… but there are so many people going through the exact same thing…
“The burden that falls off your shoulders after you tell someone your problems, you’re not going to burden them.”
If you suffer from depression or psychological complaints, you can contact:
Lifeline Crisis Chat and Crisis SMS – also call 131114 for this free, 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention service across Australia.
Beyond Blue – call 1300 224 636 for telephone support, information and resources for those dealing with depression or anxiety, or visit their website.