Dancing with depression

Published in the Air Force News | Issue 221

“I share my experiences and I offer tools to help people who have gone through the same sort of thing as me. Although I still have a lot to learn, there’s still things that people can learn from me and I like to offer that.”

A relationship breakup and major surgery that incapacitated Corporal (CPL) Bob Hela during crucial study, triggered a spiral into depression that lasted a year. He sought help and discovered a passion for dance, which changed his life and inspired him to help others struggling with their mental health.

Just before Christmas 2011 CPL Hela was halfway through his aviation technician training. Then his girlfriend broke up with him and just weeks later he underwent surgery that had him bedridden for a month.

“It hit me in three different angles –

I couldn’t walk so I was suffering physically, I was suffering emotionally because of the breakup and I was suffering mentally because of the pressures of the course.

“It got to a point in the third week after my surgery that I wanted to give up on things and it started to worry me,

I was scared for myself, so I went and saw the padre and asked to see the psychologist,” CPL Hela said.

He received support from the base and was able to graduate his course. But while his classmates were celebrating, he was not able to feel the same joy.

Near the end of that difficult year, CPL Hela discovered Latin dancing.

“I fell in love with the dance and I dedicated myself to it — I danced six nights a week, I joined teams and I ended up being chosen to be part of the national competition, which we won. I was then chosen to represent

New Zealand to go to the World Salsa Summit in Miami, Florida, in February

2014.”

The commitment to dancing sparked a journey to the end of his depression.

“It gave me the opportunity to be more mindful and be self-aware — because that’s what you do in dancing, when you are dancing you let go of the past, you exist in the moment and in the music.

“To me that was a very therapeutic moment, whenever I danced. At the same time in the dancing scene you meet a lot of people, I now have new friends and I started going out again after isolating myself from the world.”

Another relationship breakdown in 2015 prompted symptoms of a return of depression, but CPL Hela recognised the signs and sought help early.

He also began practising meditation, which added to improvements in his mental health.

Since then, CPL Hela has been a main player in the Air Force’s mentoring programme and has become an ambassador for Blue Light, a charity that works in partnership with police to deliver underprivileged youth programmes and activities.

Now CPL Hela is in a happy and loving relationship and is running salsa classes with his partner.

“Together we are sharing our love for dance with other people.”