CTF supports Heads Up campaign
A new campaign using football to “generate the biggest ever conversation around mental health” has been launched by the Football Association in partnership with mental health charity Heads Together, which is an initiative spearheaded by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex to tackle stigma and change the conversation on mental health. The campaign entitled ‘Heads Up’ will “harness the influence and popularity of football” to “show the world that mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness”.
Coping Through Football was honoured to be invited to take part in the launch of ‘Heads Up’ at Wembley Stadium on 15th May. LPFF CEO Alex Welsh and Project Coordinator Sonia Smith met The Duke of Cambridge and shared their experience of how the power of football can be channelled to improve the lives of those experiencing mental health problems.
The Duke was particularly interested in how Coping Through Football creates an environment where service users feel comfortable talking about mental health and supporting each other.
The campaign will run throughout the 2019/20 football season, from the FA Community Shield in August 2019, culminating at the Emirates FA Cup Final in May 2020. The campaign will also run across England fixtures and the Emirates FA Cup.
Alex Welsh also appeared in the campaign film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKeHpj6aUpc
He said: “We are delighted to support the Heads Up campaign as football has much to contribute to increasing understanding of mental health issues. Coping Through Football has taught us that football can be a magic pill that transforms and saves lives. Being and feeling part of a team does so much to reduce isolation and boost self-esteem and confidence, so football is the perfect vehicle. Having the Duke of Cambridge championing this campaign will be transformational in deepening people’s understanding of mental health. It was inspirational to meet someone who not only loves the game but also completely gets its wider benefits.”
