Matildas coach Joe Montemurro has hailed Mary Fowler for her “courageous” willingness to open up about her mental health.<\/p>\n
Playmaker Fowler, 22, is set for a January return from her ACL tear suffered in April.<\/p>\n
Fowler recently released her book Bloom, where she detailed struggling with her mental health, self-harming and experiencing suicidal thoughts during her time at French club Montpellier as a teenager.<\/p>\n
“We need to applaud the fact that she’s been able to face those issues \u2026 it’s so courageous to talk about these things and to come up with it,” Montemurro said.<\/p>\n
“And the fact that she’s been able to deal with these issues, I think, is all credit to her, it’s amazing.<\/p>\n
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Fowler is working back from a torn ACL in the hopes of being ready for next year’s Asian Cup. (Getty Images: Visionhaus)<\/p>\n
“I suppose it’s a little bit of a sign of the pressures that professional athletes and professional sportspeople are under these days, that there are challenges.<\/p>\n
“The more we talk about it, the more it’s out in the open, the more that we’re honest about it, I think is amazing.<\/p>\n
“This is a perfect example of someone that’s been really courageous and been able to come out with her issues, deal with it and know that there are people behind her, backing her and want to do what’s best for her.”<\/p>\n
Montemurro stressed the importance of “constant contact” with his players, who he has visited at their clubs.<\/p>\n
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