Mental Health Awareness Week 2021
Mental Health Awareness Week 2021
Mental Health Awareness Week runs from Monday 10 May to Sunday 16 May 2021 and all at Norfolk FA are delighted to fully get behind this year’s campaign which is themed around nature.
The past year has been a struggle for everyone in one way or another and millions across the country have either experienced a mental health problem or witnessed a friend or family suffer.
Throughout this week we will be promoting services, initiatives and sharing valuable content surrounding mental health and positive mental wellbeing.
SPREADING AWARENESS WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION
Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event providing an opportunity for the whole of the UK to focus on achieving good mental health. It’s open to everyone and is all about starting conversations about mental health and the things in our daily lives that can affect it.
The Mental Health Foundation started the event 21 years ago and each year the Foundation continues to set the theme, organise and host the week. Mental Health Awareness Week has grown to become one of the biggest awareness weeks across the UK and globally.
The Week is an opportunity for people to talk about all aspects of mental health, with a focus on providing help and advice.
The Mental Health Foundation is urging as many people as possible to embrace this year’s theme of nature: “This year we want people to notice nature and try to make a habit of connecting to the nature every day. Stop to listen to the birdsong, smell the freshly cut grass, take care of a house plant, notice any trees, flowers or animals nearby. Take a moment to appreciate these connections."
The Foundation are also asking people to share images/videos/or just sound recordings on social media using #ConnectWithNature and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week/faqs
STEP UP THE FIGHT WITH MIND
Mental health charity Mind has called on everyone to step up the fight for Mental Health during this year’s Awareness week, and has provided online resources for people to download and spread the word via social media.
Their website includes several videos of people discussing their experiences with Mental Health and sharing why they’re fighting. The charity are asking for as many people as possible to join in the campaign using the hashtags #MHAW and #FightForMH.
Mind is encouraging everybody to join in the fight this year: “We must take this chance to step up the fight for mental health. That means fighting for change, for fairness, for respect and for life-changing support."
Step up the fight for Mental Health with Mind - https://www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/mental-health-awareness-week/
NORFOLK FOOTBALL & MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
At Norfolk FA we have embraced the increased importance of Mental Health Awareness and the necessity to promote positive mental well-being within our workforce.
We have a mental well-being policy, encourage monthly well-being catch ups between colleagues, and have several trained ‘mental health first aiders’ to provide confidential support to staff that need advice or just somebody to talk to.
Moving forward we aim to further engage with our clubs and leagues on this topic to ensure that the Norfolk Football community is a place in which all involved feel empowered and safe to speak freely about concerns, fears or worries.
Throughout this week we will be sharing important information and engaging content surrounding some of the fantastic initiatives already taking place within Norfolk Football.
We also encourage our grassroots football community to get involved with the wider conversation and share their stories and experiences.
Chief Executive Gavin Lemmon said: “Mental health and wellbeing continues to be of increasing importance, not only within our world of football, but throughout society. We are delighted to be playing a small part in continuing to raise awareness via our communication platforms, and we are keen to highlight that more can and will be done in this fight.
“This is a subject that must remain a priority moving forward, with us looking to implement positive changes as an employer to our hard working and committed workforce, whilst also encouraging all involved in Norfolk Football to play their part in creating positive changes and increasing awareness at the same time.”