'Close to giving up': Latrell Mitchell reveals ugly toll of racist abuse

Latrell Mitchell has come out and revealed the toll racist abuse online has taken on his mental health and how close he was to quitting the game of rugby league.

Mitchell made the big switch to the Rabbitohs, from the premiership winning side the Roosters, before this season and revealed he copped some vile racist abuse online during the saga.

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Now - on the back of worldwide support for the Black Lives Matter movement - Mitchell has shed some light on how close he was to hanging up the boots before the Rabbitohs Indigenous Round clash with the Dragons.

“Honestly, I was that close to giving up,” Mitchell told The Daily Telegraph.

“I thought, why don’t I just go get a nine-to-five job and not be in the spotlight?”

Mitchell said he looked to AFL icon Adam Goodes, who experienced horrific racism during his playing days, and said he did not want it to affect his game.

Mitchell sheds light on Indigenous community struggles

But Mitchell also raised the terrifying suicide statistics within the Indigenous community and how he wanted to shed light on how badly it affects his community.

“I’ve had my demons and dark times with all this racism stuff. There’s only so much a person can take before enough is enough,” Mitchell said.

“I thought if I give up now, I’m giving these people what they want – there are a lot of people who want me to fail, and I’m not the type of person to give up.”

Mitchell shed light on the systemic racism Australia faces after revealing he copped abuse when he was playing junior rugby league.

He claimed one lady once yelled’: ‘Tackle the black c**t’,” during his junior years.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.