Every year, on 10 October, organisations and communities around the world join forces to raise awareness of mental health issues in order to make them a priority worldwide.
World Mental Health Day aims to make sure that mental health is treated with the same level of importance as physical health.
Across West Ham United, we recognise the power of sport to promote healthy practices and messaging. Health and Wellbeing is a focus area for our work and through the Players’ Project the Men’s, Women’s and Academy players have regularly provided insight on their own health and wellbeing and been vocal about the experiences with mental health, in a bid to increase awareness and help others.
Despite there being a long way to go in challenging stigma surrounding mental health, we are heading in the right direction. Through its audience engagement and cultural significance, sport can be a powerful platform to raise the profile of key messages surrounding sensitive issues.
UFC fighter Paddy Pimblett’s post-bout interview at the O2 Arena in July, in which he delivered a heartfelt speech encouraging young men to speak out about the challenges they are enduring, was a welcome moment in the struggle against mental health stigma and one which went viral: “There’s a stigma in this world that men can’t talk. I know I’d rather my mate cry on my shoulder than go to his funeral. So, please, let’s get rid of this stigma. Men, start talking!”
Advantage
Throughout the pandemic, the need for mental health support increased enormously. Many young people lost placements or employment, were isolated and had challenging home situations, causing anxiety and other mental health concerns.
With the NHS already stretched for resources, Advantage was created to alleviate some of the strain. Founded by West Ham United Foundation and delivered in collaboration with the NHS, Advantage is currently delivered through football club community organisations nationwide, harnessing their reach to young people to provide free mental health and wellbeing mentoring for 14-21-year-olds.
The programme enables participants and mentors to work together to improve their ability to cope with stress, relationship skills, and self-confidence as a means of accomplishing their goals, increasing emotional wellbeing and progressing on to other positive opportunities. Offering weekly sessions for up to six months of support, participants have reported 50% improvement in their overall everyday wellbeing.
Any Old Irons
A crucial aspect of positive mental health is feeling connected to others and society and this has been more widely recognised by people of all ages as a result of the pandemic. However, older people continue to be more vulnerable to loneliness and isolation and this can have a serious effect on health.
Through the links across the Club and Foundation, we aim to provide a safe and inclusive environment whereby those we engage with feel like they are part of a family – the West Ham family. One programme that particularly embodies this ethos is the Any Old Irons. Aimed at tackling loneliness and social isolation, this initiative has positively impacted the lives of over 350 people aged 60 and over by organising weekly sessions providing activities, outings, technology support workshops and social interaction.
Long-time member and volunteer at Any Old Irons, Steve, described how the programme helped him cope with difficult times and how much he enjoys the social benefits: “I joined in 2015, two years later, I lost my Mum,” he said. “Any Old Irons then got in touch with me about becoming a volunteer and it was the best therapy I could’ve got. It helped me cope with life. My role means I get to see all the friendships develop first-hand. I enjoy the comradeship. It’s something we’re lucky to have in our senior lives.”
If you are eligible for Advantage’s free mentoring programme, please visit www.advantagementoring.co.uk or contact [email protected] for more information.
For further information on the Foundation’s programmes including Any Old Irons, please contact [email protected].
Please talk to someone
If you or anyone you know is affected by the themes discussed in this article, please do not hesitate to seek assistance:
Mental Health Services
NSPCC – Dedicated Support for Children & Young People
- NSPCC Tel: 0808 800 5000
- NSPCC helpline: www.nspcc.org.uk
NHS – For People of All Ages
- Call 999 if someone’s life is in immediate risk or 111 in a non-emergency
- Visit the NHS Mental health and wellbeing website: www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services
If you just need to talk, any time of day or night there are some free listening services
These services offer confidential support from trained volunteers. You can talk about anything troubling you, no matter how difficult:
- Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans, or email: [email protected] for a reply within 24 hours
- Text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line, or text ‘YM’ if you're under 19
- If you or the person you are worried about is under 19, you can also call 0800 1111 to talk to Childline. The number will not appear on your phone bill.
