This World Mental Health Day (today), Southampton Football Club and its charity, Saints Foundation, have announced the launch of a new programme to raise awareness of men’s mental health issues and encourage people to seek help if needed.
Run in partnership with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board and part-funded by the IMP Trust, the Saints By Your Side initiative offers advice and guidance for managing your mental health, and people living in Southampton can also engage with a 12-week face-to-face support programme if they feel they need mental health support.
Participants can self-refer through the club website, and local GP services will also be signposting to the programme.
With sessions taking place at St Mary’s Stadium and starting later this year, the programme will give men from the local community a safe space and supportive environment to come together and learn ways to improve their wellbeing. The programme will be open to all men in the club’s locality, whether football fans or not, with post-programme support available for those needing extra assistance as the programme ends.
With the number of people reporting mental health problems on the rise, Saints By Your Side will encourage more men to discuss and be aware of their mental health needs while offering practical support to those suffering from poor mental health and wellbeing.
Launching the initiative, Southampton FC Men’s First Team player, Mohamed Elyounoussi, said:
“Mental health is something that affects us all, and having an open-minded community and support system around you can make a huge difference. The more we encourage an open dialogue about mental health issues, the better we can support those most in need."
Toby Steele, Managing Director of Southampton Football Club, said:
“One in four of us is affected by mental health issues, and many more of us know or care for people who are. If you imagine a packed St Mary’s on a matchday, one in four equates to just over the entire Chapel Stand, which shows just how vast this issue is.”
Paul Hedges, Health Projects Manager at Saints Foundation, added:
“With suicide the biggest killer of men aged 20-49 in England and Wales, we hope Saints By Your Side will encourage more men to discuss their mental health needs by removing any stigma associated with this. If we talked about mental health as much as we talk about football, we could take huge steps in looking out for ourselves and each other, and working in partnership with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board is a great way to kick-start the much-needed conversation.
“We hope Saints By Your Side will help offer support, guidance, and treatment for those most in need by supplying them with the tools they need to better look after their mental health and wellbeing.
The south coast club has a history of supporting mental health and wellbeing issues, and Saints By Your Side is another way it is demonstrating its commitment to fans and the wider community."
The club’s work in this area is part of its sustainability strategy with The Halo Effect, which is committed to supporting its local community by raising awareness of mental health issues.
To find out more about the Saints By Your Side initiative and to register to participate, please visit https://www.southamptonfc.com/
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