Oxfordshire FA Supports World Mental Health Day
Oxfordshire FA is encouraging everyone in the county, whether they’re involved in football or not, to start or continue a conversation around mental health on World Mental Health Day (Thursday 10 October).
Mental health is the leading cause of suicides in men aged between 15 and 45 years old, with women up to three times more likely to experience mental health issues than men.
The statistics are staggering and all it takes to change is the ability to talk about things without the fear of social stigma or judgement. Everyone experiences mental health and it’s time to make a change through the power of football.
HEADS TOGETHER
In 2016, The Royal Foundation launched Heads Together – a campaign spearheaded by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke of Sussex. The campaign convened eight charity partners to tackle the stigma around mental health. This successfully encouraged more people in Britain to talk openly about mental health than ever before, and more people started accessing services as a result.
The FA and Heads Together have recently started the ‘Heads Up’ campaign to help drive the conversation about mental health in football forward.
The ‘Heads Up’ campaign harnesses the influence and popularity of football to help show the world we all have mental health and it's just as important as physical health. It also builds on decades of work to tackle the stigma and drive the conversation on mental health.
For more information on Heads Up and to download the new guide, visit TheFA.com/HeadsUp and headstogether.org.uk
Those in need of immediate support can text ‘HeadsUp’ to 85258 to be connected to a trained crisis counsellor. This service is available 24/7, and free to text from most mobile networks.
SPOTTING THE SIGNS – A GUIDE FOR COACHES AND MANAGERS
As part of The FA and Heads Together’s ‘Heads Up’ campaign, a 36-page guide has been created to help coaches and managers spot the signs of mental health problems predominantly amongst male players, giving them the confidence to support and signpost to specialist help where necessary.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE