Hackett Family Plead For Mental Health Support For Grant

Family has been trying for years


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Grant Hackett's family have spoken openly about their struggles to get help for the former champion swimmer, after he was arrested at his parents' Gold Coast home following a violent outburst. 

The family, who had taken out a court order against Grant last month, called triple zero on Wednesday after he flew into a wild rage. His father, Neville, says he became verbally abusive, while there are reports the three-time Olympic champion had ended up stabbing a chopping block several times. 

Nev Hackett says the family is prepared to do anything to help him. 

"Anything at all. But, it's hard for people with this sort of problem"

"It's not just Grant, but it seems to be across the board. I was a police officer for 40 years and I have seen this sort of thing but it's entirely different when it happens at home."

Brother, Craig, says Grant's mental health situation has reached a critical level.

"To see someone who was so dominant, and I guess he had the world at his feet... to now... really, we don't know what's going to happen. It doesn't look encouraging but who knows? If he gets the right kind of treatment, which is what we're counting on, then maybe he can claw his way out of it."

Asked if he was worried, Craig said that's an understatement. 

"This is now a chronic problem and it looks like it's not going to go away in a hurry. From a mental health perspective, I hope something can be done, I really do. We are trying everything we can do, the family has tried for years. It's a bit of a 'watch this space, see what happens' [situation]".

"We've gotta get an actual medical diagnosis. Until that happens, we're just guessing. But we all know, the community knows, everybody knows, that something needs to be done."

"The whole family has done everything we can but now, y'know, it's kinda out of our hands"

He's called for more support:

"Whether it be by some sort of law intervention...we know how people struggle to get mental health treatment these days. We're in no different boat to anybody else, we're struggling to get that help."

"We're pleading for people to help us, we really are. Help Grant. Grant needs help. Nobody can do it. We can't do it."

"It's becoming to the point now where he's dangerous"

Written by: Claire Sherwood @clairesherwood_

16 February 2017




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