World Mental Health Day 2024 saw countless sport events and activities take place across Merseyside to help raise funds and awareness.
Charities and organisations across the region have been using sport as a way to raise awareness and provide support to people in the local community who are struggling.
This year was the 32nd edition of World Mental Health Day, an initiative started by the World Federation for Mental Health.
In 2023, Merseyside and Cheshire were the third region in the UK with the highest reported percentage of adults with a mental health problem, according to research by the UK Parliament.
Sport England’s latest Active Lives survey found ‘a positive relationship between life satisfaction scores and likelihood to exercise for mental wellbeing/health reasons.’
Mersey Rose Recs are an inclusive cricket club based in Liverpool whose aim is to provide inclusive cricket.
Treasurer and LGBT+ inclusion lead Andi Page said: “I think sports clubs are better positioned than most organizations to make a big difference for mental health.
“It can help your physical health, we all know that, and good physical health actually promotes good mental health. But beyond that, participating in sport, for me personally, I’ve found it helps calm my mind. It can be a kind of a form of escapism from all the other stresses of life.
“We are actively involved with helping people with their mental well being, and that’s vitally important to us. We don’t just welcome people who have these problems. We support them. We’re part of their family.
“We’re part of their support network, and I would like to see more clubs becoming more intentional in appealing to people who are mental health issues.”
There are many organisations across the region striving to create a community and a support system for people who are struggling.
Local charity Liverpool Football Therapy (LFT) hosts two weekly 5-a-side football sessions to help provide support to adults in Merseyside who are affected by mental ill health.
To mark World Mental Health Day 2024, they participated in a 7-a-side tournament run by the North West Social League at Anfield Sports Centre.
Their fundraising efforts from the tournament have so far reached a total of £325, which will go directly to the charity.
“Together We Are Stronger” Can you help support our work on #WorldMentalHealthDay by donating here; https://t.co/dyLwcSHwqe pic.twitter.com/1vAdBwQfnP
— Liverpool Football Therapy (@LiverpoolFT_) October 10, 2024
Formed in 2019, founder and Chief Executive Colin Dolan saw a need for free, small-sided, and non-competitive football sessions in Liverpool that did not require a referral.
Dolan said: “I founded LFT because of my own struggles with bipolar and how returning to football at 47 years old completely transformed my life and gave me opportunities I could only ever dream of, I want others to have the same opportunities and most importantly, I want to give hope to many others.
“most importantly, i want to give hope to many others.”
“We believe that football can be used as a recovery tool, or as part of ongoing therapy and companionship for those affected by any form of mental illness. Our service is open to all abilities and all genders.”
LFT have since gone on to host over 500 of these sessions with over 100 active participants across Merseyside.
Thomas River, whose aunt recently completed an abseiling fundraiser for the charity, said: “I had no idea what to expect when I first attended the weekly sessions, three years later I can say it has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
“I settled in immediately and was so impressed by just how many people could relate to how I was feeling on a day-to-day basis.
“Over the three years, my mental health has improved so much, and I’ve had amazing experiences I will never forget.”
All Together Active’s NHS 2024 Games Programme is another of the local initiatives aiming to bring local people together through sport.
14 NHS trusts are participating in the annual programme across Merseyside and Cheshire, including Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.
This year it includes a ‘Steps for Mental Health’ challenge, which ran from September 10 until yesterday, and aims to bring NHS staff together in a series of sports challenges
Featured Image by Holly Crebbin
