Maccabi leagues stand in support of mental awareness project

V HAVE YOU recently experienced some bad news – the bereavement of a friend or a loved one, lost your job, a lifechanging condition, the end of a relationship, debt, gambling or a drug addiction, or perhaps an issue with self-confidence?

There are a plethora of reasons why people suffer from mental health problems. But far too often, the individuals in question prefer to suffer in silence and keep their problems to themselves. I’m sure we all know someone, even if they haven’t told us yet.

That’s why I’m right behind the JAMI initiative – 1 Minute for Mental Health. The project, in association with Maccabi GB – the community’s leading health, fitness and welfare provider – will be supported across junior and senior Maccabi football leagues and teams on Sunday to coincide with the upcoming Mental Health Awareness shabbat this weekend.

It’s been a hot topic in the sports world for many years. During my 19 years in sports reporting, I’ve also played the role of team-mate, manager, Director of Football, confidante, mentor, diplomat and even, at times, agony uncle. My advice has not always worked, but I’ve had a decent rate of success.

It’s never easy knowing exactly the right thing to say all the time, but I’m a great believer that our own personal experiences shape us as individuals.

I was recently contacted by a Maccabi footballer who had suffered a family bereavement. This is a player whose father watched him week in, week out before ill-health prevented him from being on the touchlines. Returning to action after his loss, he scored a brilliant goal to inspire his team to victory and the first person he wanted to tell about it was … you guessed it, his father. I told him no doubt his old man would’ve been looking down from the stars smiling over him.

MGBSFL chairman David Wolff offered his backing to the JAMI initiative and said: “I wonder how often we stop to take stock of how lucky we are to have our mental and physical faculties.

“Sadly there are many who do not so it is important that we take time out to think of them and what we can do to make their lives a bit better.

“The league, in association with Maccabi GB, are happy to support this initiative and as a token of our support all matches this Sunday will start at 10.01am. That small time span will give everyone in the league a time to reflect. This will mirror the FA initiative which took place in the FA third round ties recently.” Wolff said: “We are a community league and there is a need to associate with events other than football.”

At all levels of football, players and managers suffer from mental and emotional problems. Even the top-earners. People are quick to criticise, as they have done following Jurgen Klopp’s announcement Liverpool “will play the kids” in the FA Cup replay against Shrewsbury Town. Some people have said he’s disrespecting the competition. But he and his players are simply following guidelines from the Premier League. “Don’t play football during this period,” they were told. It appears a no-win situation but he’s paid to make decisions and will be backed to the hilt by the club’s owners. As famous chant goes, You’ll never walk alone!

See Danny Caro’s weekend round-up at thejc.com/mgbsfl. Email dcaro@ thejc.com and/or follow Danny on Twitter:@DjCaro