David Callan, Digital Communications Officer at the Alliance, blogs about the impact of Sport Minds and how supporters both old and new are getting behind the Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation.
Saturday saw organisations and individuals across the planet mark World Mental Health Day.
The sport and recreation sector was no exception and it’s fair to say that, in the UK, mental health and sport was a hot topic in the week leading up to World Mental Health Day. No place was this topic in evidence more than the Sport Minds event from Wembley Stadium on 6 October.
The event brought together over 120 organisations from within the sector to reflect on the progress made since the launch of the Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation in March and to also drive further progress to ensure mental health in sport is something that can be openly discussed, by all concerned.
The progress made by sport and recreation organisations and clubs and the demonstrable benefits they are having on people’s mental health is plain to see. There were some brilliant examples given by England Boxing and other organisations that you can see here.
Equally, there was reason to cheer as London Youth Rowing was recognised as the 200th organisation to sign-up to the Charter.
On a personal level, the stories shared by a trio of sportsmen served to highlight how important it is to be able to talk about mental health and the internal anguish people go through feeling that, in a sporting environment, they simply can’t open up about things.
Conor Cusack, a gaelic hurler, two-time GB Olympian Andy Baddeley and retired professional footballer Clarke Carlisle all shared their own experiences on mental health. What really struck a chord was that each mentioned, once they openly spoke about their troubles, how many others were encouraged to share their own experiences. This domino effect of openness reinforces why launching the Charter and events like Sport Minds are essential means of ensuring that the sport and recreation sector IS a place where talking about mental health isn’t seen as taboo.
On the same day as Sport Minds, a report was released by Fifpro, the worldwide representative organization for all professional football player, which found that 38% of 607 current players and 35% of 219 former players reported suffering from symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. It's findings like this that highlight just how large and important an issue mental health in sport is and why work needs to be continued to help people and organisations effectively manage and support those suffering from ill mental health.
A key part of this is raising awareness and profile around the issue. So we were delighted to receive the following at the Alliance from Nick Clegg MP, who so kindly attended and supported the launch event of the Charter in March as Deputy Prime Minister, but was out of the country when Sport Minds took place,
“It was fantastic to be at the launch of the Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation earlier this year and it’s great to see how many signatories there are now to it.
We all know that sport and recreation is an incredibly effective tool in promoting wellbeing. Exercise and physical exertion can make a massive, positive difference to mental health and it’s something we should all be promoting.
The more we talk about mental health, the easier it becomes to break down barriers and the stigma that is too often attached to those who suffer from mental health issues. It’s incumbent on us to get the message across that we are there to support people with mental health issues.”
Equally, down in Exeter on Sunday, during half-time at St James Park of Exeter’s League Two match against Stevenage, the Mental Health Charter was signed on the pitch by the Grecians.
Here we have @OfficialECFC signing up to the Mental health charter for sport at half time on Sunday #sportminds pic.twitter.com/6A87KnpiT0
— Karen Mellanby (@klmellanby) October 12, 2015
It’s through support and activities like these that mental health in sport and recreation can be treated without stigma, create support programmes and networks and ensure people no longer feel that suffering in silence is the best course of action.
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