Physical activity can play a key role in managing and mitigating mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression across all age-groups.
Despite the positive effects which physical activity has on both physical and mental health, the onset of mental health problems can lead to the withdrawal from regular exercise and is a barrier to participation for many. It is important that those involved in the organisation of physical activity are equipped with the correct knowledge and information to help individuals to remove the barriers, offer support when needed and to ensure the safeguarding of all participants who are experiencing mental health problems within a sport setting.
County Durham Sport, Rise, and Tees Valley Sport have come together with Mind, to support and enable individuals from across the North East to attend an online mental health workshop and access ‘after care’ for those who want to learn more.
How many people have been reached?
- 1,111 people attended the free option we provided and the free UK Coaching Courses that were offered for a three-month period.
- Rise have purchased an additional 100 free access codes which allowed us to offer the workshop at half price.
- The half-price codes will be distributed in a targeted way to upskill those who want to become the mental health champions. They will be distributed to each of the Durham Rugby Board clubs as well as the new partners we are working with through the TIF funding.
- Note: The data we received from UK coaching about attendees did not include Tees Valley Sport region, so we know our current figure of 1,111 is actually higher.
Next Steps
We are continuing to work with Durham Rugby Board, yet due to the Covid-19 pandemic, progress has slowed a little; however we endeavour to ensure they reach their target of one mental health champion in each of their clubs.
As a next step, for anyone who requested further training in mental health awareness and support, we purchased an unlimited package from Believe Perform. Believe Perform is a website/platform which offers mental health training which covers a wide range of topics and includes short training courses to learn about techniques to help individuals, participants, parents, workforce who are suffering from poor mental health. We can provide open access to all the mental health training available on the site or tailor make specific packages for individuals to access. This has been made available across Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, as well as Durham and Tees Valley.