The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Dons extend ‘life-saving’ mental health initiative
A“life-saving” mental health scheme that provides support through Aberdeen FC has been extended.
The Changing Room was launched in 2018 to help men open up about their mental wellbeing in a setting where they feel comfortable.
A partnership between the Scottish Association for Mental Health and the SPFL Trust, the 12-week project has helped thousands of fans struggling with their mental wellbeing.
Now the AFC Community Trust – together with the charity arms of Hearts, Hibs and Rangers – is the first to roll out an extended version of the initiative thanks to funding from the Scottish Government.
The Changing Room – Extra Time had its official launch at Pittodrie yesterday.
It now offers more in-depth sessions to people who have already used its services, and will open to women for the first time.
Government ministers have committed £100,000 to the scheme, which will also see more Scottish clubs sign up to offer the initial Changing Room course.
“The need for men to actually talk about their mental health is so important. I don’t think men are particularly good at it,” said Liz Bowie, CEO of the AFC Community Trust.
“We are hoping the power of football will encourage them to open up in a different setting.
“Trusts and football clubs have a responsibility to engage and build a supportive environment.
“We are really proud of what we do around mental health and hope Changing Room can be an extension of what we have already managed to do.” Aberdeen Central MSP Kevin Stewart, the Minister for Mental Health and Social Care, said Extra Time could be a “game-changer”.
Men under 45 – who make up the majority of Scottish football fans – are more likely than any other group to die due to suicide.
“This is a great way to get men in particular to speak about their mental health and wellbeing,” Mr Stewart said. “Football and sport can be useful in helping folk open up. If people out there see their favourite team or player talking about mental health it could encourage them to do the same. It could be a real game-changer.”
Bosses at SAMH are keen to see the benefits of the programme rolled out.
Chief executive Billy Watson said: “SAMH believes in the power of football for good and for change in mental health. It provides a place where people feel easier talking about it,” he said.
“We know because men who have participated have told us about the impact it has had.
“There are people who have told us they had suicidal thoughts while they were taking part and it saved their lives. They have been able to build up resilience techniques and had access to peer support.
“The demands on the mental health system are huge and increasing.
“The more outlets we can put in place to get people talking in a safe place the better. Football can do that – it might be easier for people to talk about it at Pittodrie than a GP’s surgery.”
Fiona Taylor, operations manager at the SPFL Trust, added: “With the four clubs who are delivering Extra Time, people have to have undertaken Changing Room first and that allows us to identify people who need further support. They can then progress to Extra Time so they can get some more in-depth support.
“It also allows us to work with women and people from different ethnicities.
“Football has a massive part to play in this.”
Extra Time was backed by Dons legend Joe Harper, the club’s all-time top goalscorer, who said: “In my day there wasn’t much said about mental health.
“Nowadays it’s far more prevalent and you have to catch it quickly to stop tragedies happening.
“Aberdeen have done great things and worked very hard at it. If we can save one person from a tragedy it will have been worth it.”