The Toolstation Western League have been working with local Mind charities for to raise the profile of Mental Wellbeing within non-league football. Focussing on the players, local Mind charities in Bath, Somerset and Devon have produced special posters, designed to be displayed in changing rooms, advertising support services relevant to young men.
Western League Clubs have shown their support for this initiative by displaying adverts promoting mental health support on their social media and in their match day programmes and raising valuable funds.
Following the death by suicide of a former Mousehole AFC player, the club have introduced a five step strategy towards building stronger mental health provision, which is available to view at https://www.mouseholeafc.co.uk/mental-health-policy/. The Western League thoroughly endorse this approach and are actively encouraging all member Clubs to develop their own approaches to supporting the mental health of everyone involved in the game.
Research conducted by the Western League has shown that nearly a third of players have considered seeking support for a mental health issue, whilst half of the players surveyed had provided support for a mental health issue to a friend or family member.
If you are looking for support for yourself or a friend or family member, then please use the links below to identify the most relevant organisation and access the essential professional support they provide:
Bath Mind – https://www.bathmind.org.uk/contact-us/
Mind in Somerset – https://www.mindinsomerset.org.uk/contact-us/
Mind Devon – https://www.devonmind.com/contact
Mind Cornwall – https://cornwallmind.org/contact/
Wiltshire Mind – https://www.wiltshiremind.co.uk/contact-wiltshire-mind/
Mind Bristol – https://bristolmind.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/
Dorset Mind – https://dorsetmind.uk/get-in-touch/
Whilst the Western League have been working with Mind since the start of 2022, we are also aware that there are other organisations that can provide support and we will be promoting them and their services through this paget:
Go Again – Mental Health Professionals and Sports Coaches offering confidential, fast response support for players/ex players and coaches. https://goagain.co.uk/
Samaritans – https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/talk-us-phone/
Mousehole manager Jake Ash spoke to BBC Radio Cornwall’s Jack Murley about raising awareness of mental health. The interview can be heard by clicking here.