Information

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK

Mental Health Awareness Week takes place in the UK from Monday 9th to Sunday 15th May

Created and run by the Mental Health Foundation, this year’s theme is Loneliness - the negative feeling we experience when our relationships and connections with other people are not the way we would like them to be. The week encourages people and organisations to explore the ways in which loneliness affects our mental health, what it is to experience loneliness, and the part we can play in reducing loneliness within our communities. The Mental Health Foundation has set the theme and hosted Mental Health Awareness Week for over 20 years and during this time it has grown to be one of the biggest recognised weeks across the UK and around the world.

Each year, loneliness affects millions of us across the UK and is a major contributor to poor mental health. Mental Health in the Pandemic research undertaken by the Foundation has found that the pandemic over recent years has only exacerbated this problem.

At Saints in the Community, we believe in the power of team sports and physical activity as an effective tool to tackle loneliness and poor mental health. We run different sessions for varying levels of ages and abilities to include as many people as possible! Whether it’s coming down to a Walking Football session or playing a match in our Mental Health & Wellbeing Football team, the companionship to be found in playing together cannot be overstated in it’s benefits for our mental health. Beyond coming to play, the simple act of having a weekly event to attend has been shown to boost our mood by giving us something to look forward to and gets us out and about!

Maintaining our physical health and mental health come hand in hand so it is important to look after ourselves where we can. Our Football Fans in Training have recently been making this effort by attending our circuit sessions of supervised fitness classes. Exercise improves our mental health by reducing our anxiety, depression, and negative moods by helping to improve self-esteem and cognitive functions. Mental health doesn’t exist in isolation from our physical health, so looking after both at the same time can be the most effective way to maintain your wellbeing overall!

It might sound hard to believe but the efforts of a single person can make a real difference in tackling the stigma of mental health in our community. Every time you have a conversation about the importance of recognising and treating mental health, a ripple effect is created that can reach people within your circle and beyond. This can be a simple act such as checking in with friends, family, and colleagues to check how they are doing – and really listening to their answers. Opening up about your own experiences can alleviate the anxiety of someone struggling to tell their own story and can encourage them to open up.

Mental Health Week is a great opportunity for us to talk about all aspects of mental health, including with children, and focus on providing help and advice for ourselves and those we love.