World Mental Health Day 2023

October 10th is World Mental Health Day and this year’s theme is ‘Mental Health is a Human Right’.

World Mental Health Day is an international day for global health awareness and advocacy against social stigma.

The day acts as a great reminder to continue to normalise conversations around mental health and learn more about the different services that can help you with your mental health and wellbeing.

With one in four adults experiencing a mental health condition at some point in their life, Brentford FC Community Sports Trust are committed to tackling the stigma around mental health.

In May this year, as part of mental health awareness week, the Trust launched an innovative new partnership with West London NHS Trust’s Wellbeing & Recovery College.

The Wellbeing & Recovery College is a training and resource centre located at our Community Stadium Hub, which develops and delivers education and skills to support wellbeing and management of mental health difficulties.

The courses are open to everyone, aged eighteen and over, living, working or studying in the Boroughs of Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith and Fulham.

In addition to the Wellbeing & Recovery College, the Trust deliver numerous mental health projects including Football for Thought and Comedy for Thought.

Each programme uses the power of football and comedy respectively to act as a catalyst to focus on different mental health topics and encourage men to begin talking about how they are feeling.

Frank who took part in the Comedy for Thought programme and performance night in March commented, “In comedy for Thought I was put in a room with men, all going through their own personal issues. We learnt comedy together, how to use issues to make content, and how to come up with our own superpower and we talked in a safe space. Maria put together a really empowering training programme, with many activities to get us used to talking in front of everyone. I spoke openly about my journey, my male infertility and going through IVF and I made a sensitive topic ‘funny’.

“Speaking about my journey and making it light-hearted in front of 40/50 people was easier than telling my dad and brother about my issue. I’ll never forget it, and I’ll find speaking up much easier.”

Looking ahead, the Trust has partnered with NHS West London and Advantage Mentoring to deliver a new mentoring programme for local young people starting this month.

The programme has been designed by senior NHS strategists and Trust staff to increase access to mental health support in partnership with CAMHS and CARMHS (community and recovery Mental health services) and help tackle waiting times and reduce Health Inequalities by providing weekly 1-2-1 mentoring support for young people aged 14-21 with mild-moderate mental health and emotional wellbeing support needs, that are unable to access direct CAMHS support.

Sessions support young people by using a goals-based approach with an aim to improve life opportunities and overall wellbeing.

Chris Barrett, Education Manager at Brentford FC CST, said: “We are delighted to add Advantage Mentoring to our portfolio of programmes for our local communities and look forward to engaging with a new cohort of young people, providing a safe space and relaxed environment to support them move forward more positively.”

To find out more about the Trust’s mental health programmes, click here, or email Emily Donovan, Health and Wellbeing Manager at Brentford FC CST.