Two time Paralympian Hugh Nibloe sees World Mental Health Day as a time to reflect, acknowledging that he has found the resources necessary to maintain good mental health. Three years ago, during Covid he took the necessary steps to reach out and find support at a time he needed it most, feeling isolated and challenged by anxiety brought on by shielding during lockdown.
“That period was a hard time for a lot of people, but being a wheelchair user and having to isolate and take extra precautions certainly heightened the anxiety for me,” said Nibloe.
“Reaching out was key, getting help ended up being a turning point and it gave me the coping strategies that became part of my day-to-day. 
“Today definitely feels like a milestone and I can look back knowing that I am stronger now and that support helped me enormously and has helped me feel the way I do today.”
Nibloe is no a stranger to overcoming adversity. He was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2006, before that having been an enthusiastic club rugby player who had sailed the world with the Merchant Navy before becoming a manager at a bookmakers. In 2012 his introduction to wheelchair curling transformed his life and took him around the world again, competing in his first Paralympics in 2018 in Korea and claiming silver at the World Championships in Stirling a year later, skipping Paralympics GB in Beijing in 2022, then this year adding another World Champs bronze to his CV.
“Times had been tough before, but I think the environment during Covid made things really difficult,” said the 41 year old.
“However I feel very fortunate that I reached out when I needed to as I know how hard it is to make that first step.
“I lost a close friend to suicide 10 years ago and I wonder if intervention might have helped him. I had started out in my curling career and he had encouraged that, so I think about him a lot.
“As a programme athlete for almost a decade now, I know how much help we all receive through our support services and mental health is an area that British Curling takes very seriously.
“We attended a mental health training course recently which was mandatory for all athletes as it is something that can affect anyone at anytime.”
British Curling’s athlete health strategy encompasses a wide range of support services for all programme athletes and the mental health workshops arranged by the programme lead doctor from sportscotland, Dr Dave Pugh are supported by the UK Sport mental health experts.
“I would urge anyone to speak up, reach out, get help as I have seen first-hand the spiralling impact it can have if you don’t,” said Nibloe.
The support he has received motivated Nibloe to raise over £1000 for the mental health charity Back Onside in 2020 and he aims to continue to support mental health charities and give back when he can.
“Currently I am in a good place on and off the ice and I know what to do if that changes in the future. I think it is brilliant that British Curling have placed so much importance on this area, with expertise to help all athletes at any time in our careers,” he said.
“The theme for World Mental Health Day this year is mental health is a universal human right, so no matter where you are or what your situation is, make sure you ask for help when you need it.”
Images: PPA/Graeme Hart.
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