New initiative unites mental health and sport experts
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More than 148 schools in South Lanarkshire will benefit from a new partnership between SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) and sportscotland.
Launched on World Mental Health Day last month by SAMH’S longstanding ambassador, multiple Olympic Gold Winner Sir Chris Hoy, the new initiative will offer mental health training to 400 Active Schools Coordinators across Scotland.
The partnership with sportscotland aims to help the next generation of young people protect their mental health through physical activity and sport.
The 400-strong group of Active Schools Coordinators will benefit from a mental health training programme that teaches practical ways of monitoring and managing mental health through their work in schools across the country.
South Lanarkshire based Active Schools manager, Karen Mcinally, said: “Further education, across the board, on mental health awareness is really important, especially where young people are concerned.
“We are engaging with young people every day and have the opportunity to identify signs that an individual is struggling with their mental health in the early stages.
“In doing so, we can make a difference through early intervention and make a real, positive, difference if we think something is wrong.
“With this training provided by SAMH, we will be better equipped to handle these situations with confidence and hopefully, make a difference to the lives of the young people of Scotland. ”
SAMH launched its first sport and physical activity campaign in 2009 alongside Sir Chris Hoy.
Together, the Olympian and SAMH have spent the last decade tackling the barriers that prevent people with mental health problems from improving their physical fitness.
Billy Watson, chief executive of SAMH, said: “We’re thrilled to announce this strategic partnership with sportscotland which we believe could be a major breakthrough in building the mental health and wellbeing capacities within sports and their organisations.
“sportscotland’s leadership on mental health is setting the standard that we hope others will live up to.
“It is especially pleasing that we will be getting to work immediately in schools right across Scotland, so our young people can carry a new understanding and resilience around mental wellbeing through sport and physical activity, for generations to follow.
“Young people in particular have told us how they sometimes feel participation isn’t for them, especially when they are facing challenges in their lives.
“But they have also shared incredible stories of how sport has turned their lives around through the intervention of a teacher or active schools coordinator.
“That’s why we are working with SAMH to deliver mental health training in schools and communities right across Scotland.
“If it can help even one young person to cope with mental health problems and allow them to fulfil their potential, that would be a fantastic achievement.”