Rosemary is an advocate of the “Tag Me In” initiative and the importantance of mental health in the wrestling world.
In a recent interview with Adam Morrison of Inside The Ropes, the IMPACT Wrestling shared her thoughts on Tag Me In and its emphasis on offering people the help they need, especially when they’re struggling with any number of mental health issues. She made it clear that simply reaching out to talk to someone can be a life-saving move.
“…So what the Tag Me In campaign is, is a collective of wrestlers and everyone coming together to recognise that mental health is so important and to reach out and to be able to talk because talking and getting all of these issues and all of these feelings…,” said Rosemary. “If they’re bottled up, it just becomes poison and sickness inside. That is what ends up costing us several people taking their own lives, or ending up in a situation where they are beyond help. We want to talk to you before it gets to that point.
“The Tag Me In [campaign] has been reach out, talk to somebody. It’s all about just acknowledging that we’re all different. Everyone needs something different, different helps, perhaps more help in this situation in your life, or just because we’re struggling doesn’t mean we can’t help out someone else. Being able to talk to them can help each other as well. It’s all this system of being able to heal together and that you’re not alone. What it will tell you is that you are alone, and it’s lying.”
In recent months, mental health has become an important topic of conversation in the wrestling after the tragic death of former WCW/TNA star Daffney, formerly known as Shannon Spruill, who took her own life in December. When asked about Daffney’s influence on her career, Rosemary described how she literally paved the way for her dark, mysterious on-screen persona before she stressed that her death was the latest reminder that “enough is enough”, as it’s time to help those who are suffering while it’s still possible to do so.
“Daffney was a wonderful, close, beautiful friend, and a beautiful soul. To be able to pick her brain and to recognise different techniques that she put forward… without Daffney in TNA, there is no Rosemary in IMPACT Wrestling, to be perfectly flat out. Without Daffney and without Roxxi Laveaux, without characters that set the precadent and paved the way for dark characters to be accepted, for the Su Yungs and the Rosemarys and the Havoks of IMPACT Wrestling now, we had to have them before.
“She was absolutely a game-changer and a pioneer, but she was also suffering. That comes from a time when people didn’t talk about things and it wasn’t as common, but we’re trying to break that stigma. Daffney’s suicide had to do with the final straw. Coming out with the Tag Me In campaign, on top of that, Ashley Massarro and Hana Kimura and countless others that we’ve lost over the years. Enough is enough. Now is the time we talk about it and we help each other through this because, quite frankly, let’s not lose anymore.”
The Tag Me In initiative has been successful so far; in November, the team behind the project announced it has raised $45,000. In recent interviews with WrestleZone, AEW star Nyla Rose and Mick Foley discussed Tag Me In and its importance.
Fans can learn more about the program on the Tag Me In United website, or on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
