June 12, 2026
Men’s Health Week: Rebuilding Connection Through Sport
Words by Lucy Rawlings
From 15 – 21 June, Men’s Health Week shines a spotlight on the health and wellbeing challenges facing men across Australia. For veterans, one of the most significant – and often overlooked – challenges is the loss of connection, purpose and community that can come with transitioning out of service. This is often experienced alongside physical injuries and ongoing health concerns, which for many men, can lead to declining mental health.
With research suggesting around one in five veterans experience loneliness and one in ten experience social isolation after leaving service, the need for community-based prevention and intervention is as important as ever. Sport can play a powerful role in this space, creating familiar and accessible opportunities for veterans to stay active, reconnect with others and rebuild a sense of purpose.
This is the case for Team Australia competitors Pete O’Connell, Craig Thorogood and Jim Xinos, who have navigated their own service related challenges through sport. For Craig, sport has been life changing.
Sport has been transformative for both my physical and mental health. It has provided structure, purpose and connection and helped me manage my injuries and PTSD.”
A key part of Craig’s journey has been yoga, which he describes as a cornerstone of his rehabilitation.
“Yoga has given me practical tools for grounding and emotional regulation during difficult moments and has played a key role in improving my long-term health outcomes,” he said.
Under the guidance of Invictus Games alumnus Karney Armstrong, Craig now participates in trauma-informed yoga sessions three times a week, and the results have been transformative.
“Since committing to regular physical activity, I have lost 22 kilograms, been taken off the diabetes register, significantly reduced my metabolic age, and achieved physical milestones I never thought possible – including holding a two-minute plank and, for the first time in my life, touching my toes. The mental health benefits have been just as significant.”
Craig’s experience reflects a broader trend among veterans who participate in sport. Australian data shows veterans who regularly engage in sport experience around a 40% reduction in psychological distress and are 40% more likely to overcome mental health challenges. Up to 92% report improved mental health, while 80% report a stronger sense of purpose.
Importantly, sport isn’t simply recreation or a “nice to have”. It is a powerful, evidence-based tool that addresses many of the root causes of poor mental health and helps veterans build healthier, more connected lives.
For Jim, adaptive team sports have become an important part of maintaining both his physical and mental wellbeing.
“Adaptive team sports offer me the most benefits as they provide stimulating physical challenges within a supportive social framework,” he said. “I regularly play wheelchair AFL and NRL, sitting volleyball and now table tennis.”
While any form of physical activity can be beneficial, research also suggests that team environments often have the greatest impact, helping to foster belonging, self-esteem, and stronger support networks. For men in particular, team sports are a socially acceptable pathway to reconnect.
Pete has experienced both sides of that equation.
“In the last decade or so my tendency has been to do a lot of individual activity, such as weight training, trail running and mountain biking,” he said.
“Whilst I love these sports, being involved with Invictus Australia has allowed me to reintegrate back into team sport environments, and the benefits are already significant.”
I didn’t put enough emphasis on the social benefits of sport, which I now count as being just as critical as any other component of physical activity.”
Pete continued, “The social aspect just adds another layer of emotional resilience to your mental health armour.”
Jim’s experience tells a similar story. Following his medical retirement from defence, sport became an important part of rebuilding his life.
“My mental and physical health were pretty poor leading to my retirement on medical grounds early last year,” he said.
“My rehabilitation efforts included socialisation and sports activities with Mates4Mates and Invictus Australia. These were critical to helping me emerge from a psychological ‘hole.’
While I’m still transitioning from Defence to civilian life, I have found a new purpose and goals through sport that translate to life in general now.”
Together, their experiences reinforce what the research tells us: the value of sport extends far beyond physical fitness.
The evidence is clear that men’s overall health cannot be separated from social connection, and sport plays a vital role in rebuilding identity, purpose and belonging; factors that are critical to positive mental health outcomes, particularly for men.
For veterans, the pathway to better mental health is not always found in clinical settings alone. More often, it can be found in a teammate, a training session, a shared goal or the feeling of belonging to something bigger than yourself again.
As Pete puts it, “Any kind of exercise is great, but doing it as a community adds a sense of teamwork and mutual support.”
Stay up to date with the sporting events in your local community by joining your local Facebook group.
related stories
Rodney ‘Rocket’ Cottam, Resilience Through Running
