In recent weeks headspace Swan Hill has actively partnered with twenty-four local sporting clubs to deliver important mental health messages and strategies in three leagues across the North Central and Mallee communities.

On June 10, it was North-Central’s turn to host headspace round and thirteen headspace representatives from headspace Bendigo and Swan Hill attended all four games in the Inaugural North-Central headspace round.

Prior to every football, netball and hockey match played on Saturday the representatives explained to the junior players that teammates matter, and stressed how important it is to support your teammates off the playing arena the same as you do on game day.

headspace personnel emphasised to the senior players the significant role they have around their clubs as mentors and positive role models of the junior players. Senior players were encouraged to be a good teammate by supporting each other on the field and continue important conversations off the field.

The game day ball from each match was awarded to a player (from either team) adjudged by the umpires of the game as the player who best demonstrated the headspace message throughout the game, accepting the umpires’ decisions and showing encouragement to their teammates whether they were winning or losing.

“Movember”

Following on from headspace Round, headspace Swan Hill is excited to announce that it has partnered with the AFL as a delivery partner for Movember Ahead of the Game (AOTG) — a mental health literacy and resilience program for young people in football clubs.

The AOTG program will be the largest roll out of a mental fitness program in sport globally and aims to educate young players and umpires (aged 12-18 years) and their support networks of parents, coaches, and club volunteers on the importance of mental health.

Giving them tools to deal with life’s challenges, and the confidence to support their mates through tough times, whilst also empowering them to look after their own mental wellbeing.

Workshops

Headspace Swan Hill will join 15 other community organisations from across the country to facilitate AOTG’s interactive workshops to teams of young players and umpires in community football club change rooms, before, after or during training.

The program also extends to workshops for parents, coaches and club volunteers, providing opportunities to educate whole football club communities on recognising mental health challenges, identifying when to get help and building resilience to deal with challenges in sport and life.

AFL Head of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Dr. Kate Hall said it was great to welcome a host of delivery partners to the program.

“The AFL is thrilled to partner with Movember and work with our delivery partners to facilitate the Ahead of the Game program to hundreds of communities this year,” Dr Hall said.

“We know that grassroots football clubs around Australia provide a place for connection and belonging for young people.

Crucial Skills

“The AFL and Movember believe footy is a way for young Australians to learn crucial mental skills that build resilience in football and life. These skills include appreciating your team and helping out a mate.

“We want to harness the power of our great game to help players, coaches, parents and volunteers to understand mental health, build mental fitness and strengthen resilience across the country so that we can build communities that are mentally fit and capable to handle any challenge that comes their way.”

With most common mental health conditions occurring in adolescence to mid-20s, Movember APAC Country Director, Rachel Carr said giving young people the tools to better understand mental health and mental fitness has never been more important.

“We know that 75% of all mental health conditions onset before the age of 25 years old, making these critical early intervention years,” Rachel said.

“If we can connect with young people before this point and help improve their mental health literacy and resilience, we could slow the onset and burden of mental ill health for future generations.”

The AOTG program will be delivered in stages to community football clubs across all states and territories throughout the three-year partnership, with the program to begin in Victoria, NSW, Queensland, Northern Territory and Tasmania in the first year.

Community football clubs can registration their expression of interest for the first year of the AOTG program via https://www.play.afl/aotg.

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 14 June 2023.