Mind and EFL Launch World Mental Health Day Campaign
October 11, 2019
Mind and the EFL have expanded on their partnership, which aims to improve football’s approach to mental health and wellbeing, with the campaign ‘Goals Worth Talking About,’ launching in conjunction with World Mental Health Day.
The awareness campaign will feature participating football clubs, whose fans have voted for their side's most iconic EFL moment. Each moment will get its own piece of street art in their respective cities.
EFL says that Goals Worth Talking About seeks to highlight how important talking is when it comes to mental health support, highlighting how football is, for many, the perfect conversation starter. The murals in each city are designed to be a local, visual reminder of that, based in city centre locations.
Sunderland, Leeds, Preston, Cardiff, West Bromwich and Leyton in East London will all feature a piece of artwork based on their club’s iconic moment, while Bristol will get two - one for City and another for Rovers.
Debbie Jevans, EFL Executive Chair, said: “The EFL is proud to be associated with Mind as our charity partner and we are pleased to be able to work together to highlight the challenges around mental health on World Mental Health Day.
“The power of football and the club badge provides a platform like no other and through the Goals Worth Talking About campaign and the EFL’s wider partnership with Mind, we aim to continue to encourage conversations and improve the approach to mental health in both football and in the wider society.”
Paul Farmer, Chief Executive, Mind said, “We know that football and emotion go hand in hand. That’s why we’re delighted to be marking World Mental Health Day this year with Goals Worth Talking About, as part of our charity partnership with the EFL.
“Football has the power to bring about real change. We hope that by harnessing the passion and emotion fans have about their clubs’ most significant goal through these fantastic pieces of street art, we can encourage more people to start up conversations about their emotions and ultimately their mental health too.
“Together, Mind and the EFL hope that Goals Worth Talking About can be the inspiration to people to make their first step to getting support.”
In honor of World Mental Health Day, Beyond Sport will be launching the Stay in the Game Network - a new, year-round coalition that will leverage sport to help change the national conversation on mental health and wellness for the better.
Building on the momentum of the inaugural Stay in the Game Forum in June 2019, join like-minded organizations to collaborate and work towards moving the dial and breaking the stigma about mental health through sport.
Founding members, Beyond Sport, National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, Centerstone, Citrone 33 Foundation and USA Cycling will help lead the vision and mission.
Register your organization’s interest to receive more information about the Stay in the Game Network, how to become a member and the benefits included.