Mental Health Awareness Week Highlights
This week (14-20 May) marked the annual World Mental Health Awareness Week. Each year, Beyond Sport looks to raise awareness around the issue of mental health, which has a massive impact on the health and wellness of all sectors of our society.
Founded by the Mental Health Foundation, the month is organized into action weeks in which people and organizations join together across the world to campaign for changes to the way we educate ourselves and approach issues around mental health.
Sport can play a unique role in improving our mental wellbeing and raising awareness about forms of illness. Physical activity and teamwork can combat forms of anxiety, depression and low self-esteem.
This year, we are celebrating organizations in our network who have implemented mental health programs - some of which applied for the Beyond Sport Global Awards. We are also looking at sporting initiatives from around the world that are using curriculum to improve levels of mental wellbeing in the communities in which they operate.
With support from Sport England and the National Lottery, Get Set to Go has been helping people with mental health problems get active. Since 2015, Get Set to Go has seen 3,585 people with mental health problems take part in specially designed physical activity projects.
State of Mind Grassroots Program by National Rugby League
For the past 2 years, NRL Community has been using their voice, in consultation with Australia’s leading health experts, to make a difference to a big issue that impacts our Game and our communities – mental illness. They do this through using the Game's reach, profile, clubs and players to reduce stigma around mental illness. They stimulate help seeking behaviours by educating and informing the community with resources and literature. They connect Rugby League communities with their expert partners, Lifeline, Kids Helpline, Headspace and The Black Dog Institute. And finally, they develop elite players to be leaders in mental health advocacy within their Clubs and communities.
Free to Run - Hiking to Heal is a hiking programme for refugees of war and conflict who have landed in Hong Kong. The city is now home to several thousand refugees who often live in deplorable conditions because they are not allowed to work. Their situation can lead to social isolation and desperation. Fitness activities are amazing opportunities for these refugees to re-develop their mental and physical strength.
GLOBAL INITIATIVES
NBA encourages mental wellness
NBA Cares recently launched their new website that teaches to Educate, Communicate, and Practice mental wellbeing. The NBA have made a commitment to fans, families, and communities by promoting healthy minds and bodies and increasing awareness around emotional well-being.
Find out more from this PSA featuring DeMar DeRozan and Kevin Love.
NFL and NFLPA host forum on Mental Health in Sports
As part of their ongoing efforts to promote player health and wellness, the NFL and NFL Players Association teamed up with insurance company Cigna to host “Beyond The Physical: A Symposium on Mental Health in Sports”.
The forum, which included a series of panels featuring NFL players and legends as well as mental health organizations, caregivers, medical providers and media personalities, aimed to raise awareness around mental health and promote a culture where everyone, including athletes, are encouraged to seek the help and support they need to achieve overall wellness.
Read more here.
Also, read about former NFL Running Back Montee Ball, who has just started a Mental Health Fund.
Dame Kelly Holmes on the Mental Health Benefits of Exercise
Dame Kelly Holmes has spoken about the emotional benefits of fitness and exercise at an event held at the start of Mental Health Awareness Week. The Olympic gold medal winner, who was attending a run at Leeds Castle on Monday, said getting outside to run can have a big impact.
"You can be out in the fresh air, you can feel like all your cares are gone and get that adrenaline around and endorphins which can make you feel good," she said.
Read more here.
Hull FC Players partner with Mind
Hull FC players have put their weight behind a new mental health awareness campaign which encourages more people to talk openly about their problems.
Teammates Bureta Faraimo and Mickey Paea posed with the new shirts which carry the message “Sport, Mates and Mental Health” – the idea being that everything listed on the new t-shirts are things which people should be happy and open to talking about. Find out more here.
UK Snowsports Organization combating Mental Illness
Following the popularity of this year's Winter Olympics, UK Snow Sports organization Snowbility has seen a huge uptake in participation. Since 2011, Snowbility has helped over 10,000 people to gain from both the physical and psychological benefits of skiing and snowboarding.
With a slogan, “It’s cool to be different,” the company welcomes students from all walks of life and backgrounds to get involved with winter sports. The program's wide reach helps those with various needs and problems, including learning disabilities and autism.
Find out more here.
Legal & General's Not A Red Card Campaign Continues...
thinkBeyond are continuing our work with Legal & General's 'Not A Red Card' campaign as they launch the next step of their mental health initiative.
The Not A Red Card Awards will celebrate businesses that have developed and implemented best practices around addressing mental health in the workplace. Whether it be an HR department set up to welcome the discussion of mental health, a truly innovative programme for preventive care, or an initiative for awareness and education, any business large or small can apply.
The closing date for entries in to the Not A Red Card awards is 3rd August 2018. The Awards Finalists will be announced on 22nd September, 2018 and the winners will be revealed and celebrated at a special ceremony at our Not A Red Card Forum on 30 October, 2018.
Find out more here.