Mental health campaigners lined-up to spread the word
‘It Takes Balls to Talk’ mental health campaigners were at the Ricoh Arena this Saturday (21 January), to promote and raise awareness of the anti-stigma mental health campaign.
The successful Coventry and Warwickshire anti-mental health stigma campaign targets men at sports-related events with messages about reducing the stigma associated with mental illness.
Volunteers were on hand before the Coventry City vs Fleetwood Town game to speak to fans about the need to speak up about their mental health and to emphasise the stark truth that men face a 4 in 1 chance of experiencing mental illness at some point in their lives.
The same team of mental health campaigners were also out on New Year’s Eve.
Volunteers were at Warwick Racecourse’s New Year’s Eve raceday event on 31 December, to speak to racegoers about the need to speak up about your mental health.
They used the slogan ‘Beat the Odds’, to emphasise the stark truth that men face a 4-1 chance of experiencing mental illness at some point in their lives.
They have already been at a Wasps rugby union game at the Ricoh Arena, and have visited sports events across the area with campaign messages and information about local services.
‘It Takes Balls to Talk’ is supported by mental health provider Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, Coventry and Warwickshire Mind, Samaritans and a range of other public sector organisations and sports organisations.
Campaign founder and mental health worker Alex Cotton explained: “The campaign aims to reach out to men in Coventry and Warwickshire, and the people who care about them. The simple message that it really helps to talk about how you feel. It can be difficult to speak up about your mental health, but there are people who can help.
“We are really grateful to Warwick Racecourse and the Jockey Club for their support on New Year’s Eve.
“New Year is a time that many people find extremely difficult, so we hope we provided a timely reminder to men in our area that if you speak to someone - or can be a ‘listening mate’ for a pal who needs you - it can really make a difference.”
Campaigners will be out and about at more sporting events during 2017. In the meantime, you can visit the campaign website at www.ittakesballstotalk.com, or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.