Players and managers from across the English Football League (EFL) fronted a multi-platform and multi-strand #OnYourMind initiative to highlight the role football can play in tackling mental health problems on World Mental Health Day.
The campaign’s aim was built around highlighting the statistic that 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem each year.
On the day itself, a squad of soccer stars turned heads at London’s King’s Cross as part of a live exhibit to engage the millions of passengers and football fans who pass through the railway station barriers and the soccer stadium turnstiles.
James Shea (Luton Town), Deji Oshilaja (AFC Wimbledon), Luke Prosser (Colchester Utd) and Darius Charles (Wycombe Wanderers) surprised football fans and commuters by taking centre stage at a special temporary installation on the King’s Cross station concourse, on behalf of the English Football League (EFL) and its charity partner, the mental health charity Mind.
The four players each spent half an hour minutes within the live exhibit posing as footballers with visible and invisible health problems, in full view of passengers within the station.
To highlight the key 1 in 4 statistic, three of the footballers demonstrated clearly physical health problems, whilst the remaining player, who on the face of it appeared unhurt, represented the fact that anyone can also experience problems with mental health and that, although these can’t always be seen, they should be treated with equal importance.
The exhibition, which will remain open throughout World Mental Health Day, highlights that every year dozens of EFL managers, hundreds of EFL footballers, and hundreds of thousands of EFL club supporters will be living with a mental health problem, many of them feeling unable to reach out for support.
The location was chosen for the high footfall and the fact that train travel is the second most popular mode of travel for supporters (after driving).
In fact, just as 1 in 4 people experience mental health problems, the EFL’s own research shows that 1 in 4 fans rely on train travel to attend away fixtures in the Sky Bet Championship, or Sky Bet League One and League Two.
The live event was amplified across both the league and the charity’s digital and social platforms with films and image led executions carrying the #OnYourSide hashtag.
Like football, life has its ups and downs. Every year 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem. That could be hundreds of football players & thousands of football fans
Introducing your new support team – @MindCharity.
RT to support #OnYourSide #WorldMentalHealthDay pic.twitter.com/Thycmoig96
— EFL (@EFL) October 10, 2018
Break the silence.
No one should face a mental health problem alone. On #WorldMentalHealthDay we want you to share your stories with us.
Today and everyday, the @EFL and @MindCharity are #OnYourSide pic.twitter.com/nNw7lJLzVG
— EFL (@EFL) October 10, 2018
Stars of EFL Clubs turned heads at an exhibition at King’s Cross this morning…
Find out more https://t.co/myLNTyG4Lk
Break the Silence – text ‘football’ to 70660 to donate to @MindCharity#OnYourSide #WorldMentalHealthDay pic.twitter.com/VWIBDRZWL5
— EFL (@EFL) October 10, 2018
And content pieces also drive viewers to the charity’s digital hub for further advice.
We all have mental health and we need to look after it, just as we would our physical health.
Find out more from #EFL charity partner @MindCharity via https://t.co/3sOHpAdpM3 #OnYourSide pic.twitter.com/I11tE8J0ii
— EFL (@EFL) October 10, 2018
This was further supported by several other EFL activation strands ranging from player and manager interviews and Q&A’s,
plus club-hosted events
@drfc_official held a social cafe at the Keepmoat Stadium on Monday as part of their partnership with @DoncasterMind.
Find out morehttps://t.co/Ci3PDa7BY2 #WorldMentalHealthDay pic.twitter.com/tOY5glWwoI
— EFL (@EFL) October 10, 2018
Every year 1 in 4 experience a mental health problem.
Our clubs do fantastic work using the #PowerOfSport to improve people’s physical and mental wellbeing.
As part of #WorldMentalHealthDay today, we will be showcasing a variety of their influential stories in this area pic.twitter.com/XZzSw8BRMS
— EFL Trust (@EFLTrust) October 10, 2018
Indeed, ahead of the World Mental Health Day, Jen Lonergan, Jade Sharp, and six others took on Kilimanjaro in support of Mind.
A remarkable feat.
Jen Lonergan, Jade Sharp, and six others took on Kilimanjaro in support of @MindCharity.
Watch their journey below… #WorldMentalHealthDay pic.twitter.com/MvHc2afzsI
— EFL (@EFL) October 10, 2018
While EFL clubs across the country have also provided their local Mind shops with signed shirts to help raise funds for the charity.
#EFL Clubs have provided their local @MindCharity shops with shirts for special #WorldMentalHealthDay window displays…
@stokecity's Tom Ince, and Club legend Terry Conroy, have been on hand to share them in the Potteries! pic.twitter.com/VpXpc0oTs2
— EFL (@EFL) October 10, 2018
“Every day throughout the year the EFL, through its 72 Clubs and their support staff ensure players improve and maintain their physical health. The focus on mental health should be no different and every year 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem,” commented interim EFDL chair Debbie Jevans.
“With 1 in 4 EFL supporters using train travel to attend matches we chose Kings Cross Station to highlight the need to raise awareness of the challenges around mental health and the work the EFL and its charity partner, Mind will be doing to offer help and support those in need,”
“We all have mental health just as we have physical health and both are equally important to look after. Whether you’re a star striker or season ticket-holder you shouldn’t have to live in fear about opening up and getting support for either your physical or mental health,” said Mind CEO Paul Farmer.
“We’re delighted to have joined with the EFL to create the On Your Side charity Partnership to make sure that no one has to tackle a mental health problem alone. Today, on World Mental Health Day, and all days, Mind and the EFL are On Your Side.”
Comment:
Mind and the EFL have joined forces for two years.
We’re so proud to be working with the @EFL for the next two seasons, using the power of football to improve the nation’s mental health.
Some lovely #WorldMentalHealthDay stories over on their feed right now #WMHD18 https://t.co/lBct99cSAz
— Mind (@MindCharity) October 10, 2018
The activity comes as part of a football season in which EFL and Mind have joined forces in a pioneering partnership that seeks to use the power of football to improve the nation’s mental health.
Throughout the current 2018/19 football campaign, the players of all 72 EFL clubs from the Sky Bet Championship through to League Two are wearing the Mind logo on the back of their matchday shirts, the first time that player names have incorporated a charity logo.
The EFL (English Football League), a 72 member club organisation spanning three divisions is the largest single body of professional clubs in European football and is responsible for administering and regulating the Sky Bet EFL, Carabao Cup and Checkatrade Trophy, as well as reserve and youth football.
The EFL and EFL Trust and its member clubs claim to be committed to communities across the country – providing shared experiences for all and using the power of sport to improve lives.
Mind is a UK based mental health charity that provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem and campaigns to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
Other sports pieces promoting Mental Health Awareness Day include England Rugby,
It's #WorldMentalHealthDay…
Don't suffer in silence, #LiftTheWeight.
Find out more about the work @theRPA does to help players with mental health issues here: https://t.co/16QpzVZviR pic.twitter.com/HASd6EPprD
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) October 10, 2018
The PFA,
Mental health issues can affect anyone at anytime.
The PFA has a 24/7/365 helpline for players. Members (past and present) can contact the PFA confidentiallyhttps://t.co/yBBnokcTj0#WorldMentalHealthDay pic.twitter.com/ewIJNU2Ul3
— PFA (@PFA) October 10, 2018
The EIF,
On #WorldMentalHealthDay, @uk_sport and the EIS have unveiled increased measures to facilitate a positive #MentalHealth environment across Olympic & Paralympic sport. Read more: https://t.co/UHI6HMB4Ks pic.twitter.com/47RkCQMgx9
— EIS (@eis2win) October 10, 2018
and clubs such as QPR.
Links:
EFL
https://www.instagram.com/efl/
https://www.facebook.com/theEFL/
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheFootballLeague/videos
Mind