Charity puts spotlight on mental health
LOOK AFTER IT LIKE YOUR PHYSICAL SELF, FANS ARE TOLD
THE Newcastle United Foundation is using the power of sport to raise awareness of mental health issues.
Be a Game Changer, funded by Newcastle City Council and the Premier League PFA (Professional Footballers’ Association) Community Fund, aims to change perception of mental health issues.
It will encourage fans to take action to look after their mental health, in a similar way to how they would look after their physical health.
Research carried out by Newcastle United Foundation shows that even though one in four people will experience a mental health problem, there is still stigma which discourages people, especially men, from talking about it.
Head of Newcastle United Foundation Kate Bradley said: “Last season the foundation delivered 686,616 hours of physical activity across all programmes, which generated £12.6m in health and wellbeing benefits for the North East. We know that mental health is as important as physical health, which is why we are proud to launch this campaign with Newcastle City Council and the Premier League to support Newcastle United fans.”
The campaign will include reallife stories from fans who have experienced mental health issues, information and tips to support mental well-being, education workshops, signposting to specialist services and matchday activities at St James’ Park.
Scott Carpenter, a recent foundation health and well-being programme
participant, said: “Now I know that statistically when I am in my seat at St James’ Park there are likely to be another 13,000 fans around me facing similar struggles that I faced.
“If I had known that years ago I think I would have had the courage to speak up about my problems and not been embarrassed to tell my family.”
Ashley Lowe, health and wellbeing Manager at Newcastle United Foundation, said: “Mental health problems affect one in four of us.
“Stress, anxiety and depression are the most common mental health problems, often accompanied by physical symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, muscle tension and headaches.
“Exercise and talking are both proven to help so we want to help men, and their family and friends, by giving them the tools to improve their own mental well-being.”
Suicide is the biggest killer of men aged 20-49 across England and Wales and in 2017 and it was reported that the North East had the highest number of suicides in the UK.