Football organisations promote mental health

Football organisations promote mental health

Research conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that one in every four persons will be affected by a mental disorder at some stage of their lives. To make this already dire mental health landscape even worse, the current Covid-19 health crisis has had a dramatic impact on mental health worldwide. In fact, having to deal with anxiety, fear, isolation, social distancing and restrictions have brought emotional distress to many people. The current strict lockdown in many European countries is another challenge.

Therefore, we have interviewed Michael Colquhoun, Head of Community Welfare and Inclusion at Burnley FC in the Community and asked him about their work on mental health programmes. Michael is exercising regularly to stay healthy and fit. Read the full interview here.

Below, we are highlighting some of the programmes that our members deliver on mental health.

AFCCT: MINDSET programme

One promising approach to improving the mental wellbeing of young people is to bring mental health promotion into schools. In early 2019, Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust (AFCCT) and Grassroot Soccer formed a partnership to design, deliver, and evaluate an innovative adolescent mental wellbeing programme. The result is MINDSET, a 12-session curriculum for adolescents in the last years of primary school and first years of secondary school. The school-based programme focuses on a positive approach to mental wellbeing, enhancing the strengths and skills of adolescents to cope with the stresses of life. MINDSET aims to break down the stigma around mental health by making it normal for adolescents to talk about mental wellbeing. Recently, 180 S1 pupils from Lochside Academy graduated from the AFCCT Mindset programme. As a celebration of the pupils completing the Mindset programme a graduation event was held to recognise the pupils hard work throughout the term. Each participant received a certificate and pin badge as a recognition of their achievement. Feedback from the pupils was positive with them giving the programme the big thumbs up with all evaluations completed saying they would love future sessions. Despite the COVID restrictions the sessions were fun and interactive and had a huge impact on the pupils attending.

SPFL: Mental Health First Aid Course

The Chris Mitchell Foundation, working in partnership with the SPFL Trust, are offering Mental Health First Aid Training Courses.

Newcastle United: Be a Game Changer

Mental health problems are common. In fact, one in four of us will experience a mental health problem each year. That’s an average of 12,989 fans at every Newcastle United game. So we all need to look after our mental health, just like we look after our physical health. That’s Newcastle United have launched Be a Game Changer, to encourage people in their city to talk openly about mental health and to provide tips on how to improve your physical and mental wellbeing. The North East has the highest male suicide rate in the country. Figures published in summer 2019 reveal the number of people taking their own life is on the increase nationally and men account for 75 per cent of all recorded suicides in the UK. Suicide is the most common cause of death for men aged 20 to 49 in England and Wales. If people talk more openly about mental health, they can take steps to look after ourselves, and each other, more effectively.

Notts County Foundation: Mental Health Pledge

Notts County Foundation launched the Time to Change Employers Pledge continuing their commitment to promoting and supporting the mental health and wellbeing of their staff, partners, and the wider community. They recognise that it is important they all feel comfortable talking about theirmental health and that as an organisation they are proactive in promoting an inclusive agenda across their organisation. FITC will work with their partners to deliver their Time to Change action plan to reduce the stigma associated with mental health and promote a work environment in which they feel able to talk about their health. Time to Change recognises the increased pressures of modern life on mental health and will utilise a wide range of resources to support staff across all the service areas. The key elements of the action plan are:

• Appointing Mental Health Champions who will focus on promoting workplace wellbeing and creating opportunities for people to talk about mental health in the workplace.
• Working with partners to reduce the stigma around mental health to make it easier to talk about health and access support when needed.
• All FITC staff to have confidential access to the Mental Health Specialist.
• Regular mental health awareness training for all staff including equipping line managers and senior leaders to support mental health in the workplace.
• Provide information about mental health and signpost to local and national support services.

Pro League and Younited Belgium’s partnership

Pro League and Younited Belgium believe in the power of football and the power of people. Younited Belgium is a social organisation that uses football for the reintegration of adults struggling with issues such as housing, mental health, wellbeing, poverty or addiction. Each Younited team is set up through the collaboration between a football club and a social organisation such as street workers, day centres, neighbourhood sports centres and homeless hostels. Almost all professional football clubs in Belgium have a Younited team. It is a national partnership that covers the entire Belgian territory. During the ongoing season, the logo of Younited Belgium is printed on all match tickets and appear on the backdrop for all national TV-interviews. The name of the Jupiler Pro League (the first division competition) was changed again to the Younited Pro League for an entire matchday during the Christmas period. The shirts of professional Pro League players were be auctioned and all proceeds donated to Younited Belgium.

Montrose Community Trust: Community Support Scheme

In association with Montrose Football Club, Montrose Community Trust has launched the initiative, ‘Hot Meal Distribution’, as part of the COVID-19 Community Assist Scheme. Through its ‘Community Assist Scheme’ Montrose Community Trust used the power and appeal of football to change lives and communities, throughout the town in Scotland. The Trust is committed to supporting those most in need in the local community, and their extensive range of programmes are designed to address locally identified needs, whether it be assisting those who are unemployed, living in isolation, recovering from an addiction and/or living with dementia, to name just a few of the trust’s areas of work. Through this scheme, both the club and trust helped others through the delivery of food packages, taking people to appointments, offering befriending sessions for those in isolation or those who are suffering from poor mental health and more.

How can sports help to improve mental health?

According to Sport England, there is plenty of evidence that taking part in physical activity can have a profound and positive impact on mental wellbeing. Being physically active can improve mood, decrease the chance of depression and anxiety and lead to a better and more balanced lifestyle. 

Improved mood: Studies show that physical activity has a positive impact on our mood. One study asked people to rate their mood after a period of exercise (i.e. walking or gardening) and after inactivity (i.e. reading a book). Researchers found that people felt more awake, calmer and more content after physical activity. 

Reduced stress: Being regularly active is shown to have a beneficial impact on alleviating stress. It can help manage stressful lifestyles and can help us make better decisions when under pressure. Research on working adults shows that active people tend to have lower stress rates compared to those who are less active.

Increased self-esteem: Physical activity has a big impact on our self-esteem – that’s how we feel about ourselves and our perceived self-worth. This is a key indicator of mental wellbeing. People with improved self-esteem can cope better with stress and improves relationships with others.

Depression and anxiety: Exercise has been described as a “wonder drug” in preventing and managing mental health. Many GPs now prescribe physical activity for depression, either on its own or together with other treatments. It’s effective at both preventing onset of depression and managing symptoms.

You can find more research on sport and mental health, tips on how to get started and overcoming barriers here.

Do you need urgent help?

If your mental or emotional state quickly gets worse, or you’re worried about someone you know, please contact your local or national mental help support. You’re not alone; talk to someone you trust. Sharing a problem is often the first step to recovery.