Mental health on the radar for clubs
Berks & Bucks affliated clubs invited to attend sessions
A series of mental health awareness sessions are being run specifically for grassroots football clubs and their players and coaches over the coming month.
The sessions have been organised by the Berks & Bucks Football Association in collaboration with the Tackle This Together organisation, and they’ll be led by MHFA England – who provide mental health training in the workforce sessions.
All Berks & Bucks FA affiliated clubs have been invited to take part in the sessions, which will run via Zoom on January
22, January 29, and February 5.
The first of those sessions is a Youth Mental Health Awareness Course on January 22, from 6-9pm.
It is designed for participants who work with youth age groups and wish to be trained and aware of any mental health or wellbeing issues they might face as they conduct their training sessions.
The second of the courses looks more at adult mental health awareness issues. These sessions run on January 29 and February 5 from 6-9pm.
Both courses have been tailored specifically to grassroots football.
The Berks & Bucks FA and Tackle This Together are also planning to run separate workshops to support football clubs who are looking to implement more mental health awareness, education, support and conversation within their community.
Hans Cook, who works for the Berks & Bucks FA, posted that he felt the sessions would ‘make a positive impact in the mental health awareness space this year.’
A summary for the course reads: “We all have mental health, just as we all have physical health.
“Mental ill health can strike at any time and can affect anyone.
The only effective, sustainable approach to wellbeing involves the whole community.
“Although things are improving, stigma still exists around mental ill health. As a society, we don’t tend to know how to take care of our mental health like we do our physical health.
“This means that people may not know how to support a friend, family member or colleague experiencing a mental health issue, or where to go for help with their own mental health.
Hans Cook and Ross Butterfield, the founder of Tackle This Together have come up with the idea and believe it is ideal for managers and coaches currently working in grassroots football.
The Tackle This Together organisation aims to raise awareness of mental health issues in sport, specifically in grassroots sport, and tries to do this through conversation, support and education.
The Berks & Bucks FA have already implemented several impressive mental health initiatives, including a mental health ambassadors programme that has brought together numerous clubs that are looking to champion mental health within their community.
A few weeks ago, Berks & Bucks FA was recognised at the annual Football Association awards for their ‘Partnership of the Year’ with Sport in Mind.
For more information about the courses, and to possibly get discounted sessions, visit https://tacklethistogether.co.uk/courses/