Premier League clubs raising awareness of mental health through 'Inside Matters' | OneFootball

‘Inside Matters’ will be visible at Premier League fixtures from 10-11 May ahead of UK Mental Health Awareness Week (12-18 May). This period will be used to promote positive conversations around mental wellbeing, as well as highlighting work carried out in communities to support fans.

Research conducted by the Premier League shows how football helps to connect people and start conversations. The League is encouraging fans to use their love of the game as a catalyst to reach out to fellow supporters, friends and family to make a difference to their mental wellbeing.

To help initiate conversations around mental health, players and managers from all Premier League clubs have been filmed making a call to a friend or family member. This includes Tino Livramento who made a call to Magpies teammate Lewis Hall, checking in during his injury rehabilitation. The conversations will be shared on Premier League channels over the next week.

Highlighting the importance of discussing mental health, while supporting the Inside Matters campaign, Newcastle United’s Dan Burn commented: “Mental health does not discriminate, it affects everybody. You might think you’re the only person going through difficulties, but when you speak about it and open up to people you realise that everyone has something going on.

“When I have struggled, I was very lucky that I had a good network around me to help me through difficult times. I would always encourage people to take the time to check in on others.”

UNITED AS ONE

Newcastle United continues to use football as a tool to engage locals across a number of programmes tailored to support mental health and wellbeing. Alongside projects led by Newcastle United Foundation, the club’s work in this area is encompassed by the United As One campaign - championing equality, diversity and inclusion.

Staff wellbeing

Over the past 12 months, Newcastle United enhanced its support centered around staff mental health and wellbeing. The club has trained over 20 mental health first aiders who have since launched a number of internal initiatives by uniting employees and helping to start conversations about wellbeing, as well as signposting towards further support.

The latest initiative will see staff participate in a competitive challenge to ‘get their steps in’ during a virtual race from St. James’ Park to Wembley, in a nod towards the men’s first-team’s recent Carabao Cup victory in London.

Memory Café

Newcastle United’s Memory Café is the region's biggest football drop-in session for those living with life-changing illnesses such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

The Memory Café welcomes former Magpies players to discuss games and goals of years gone by, stimulating conversation amongst attendees. Each monthly session at St. James’ Park supports fans and their families, with around 100 attendees joining the drop-in clinics.

Assisting fans who suffer from memory loss illnesses, and helping to tackle social isolation, the Memory Café has reached more than 4,000 participants since being established in 2019.

Each session is free to attend and people can register their interest by contacting the club on unitedasone@nufc.co.uk or telephone via 0191 201 8407.

Walking Football

Newcastle United Foundation’s Walking Football sessions aim to inspire footballers of all abilities to enjoy spending time on the pitch and socialising with friends old and new in a safe and respectful environment.

Providing a route back into sport, sessions are ideal for individuals who may have been inactive for a while, who want to improve their fitness or who are simply looking for an opportunity to socialise. To view available sessions and register interest in attending, click here.

Inside Matters is part of the Premier League and clubs’ broader work to integrate mental health and wellbeing into key policies and practices, supporting players, fans, communities and schools. For more information on Inside Matters visit: www.premierleague.com/insidematters.