A LOTTERY Funded project called Offload aims to unite men from deprived areas through the use of rugby. This is supported by Rugby League Cares and State Of Mind Sport.
The scheme is supported by Salford Red Devil’s Foundation, Warrington Wolves Foundation, and Widnes Viking’s Foundation.
The club aims to work with 10 fixtures after each club will invite men to be a full-time member of the foundation squad.
This gives them a range of options from physical activity sessions, heritage work, and volunteering opportunities.
Combating well-being, stress and negative thinking
Males account for 76% of all suicides in the UK however they only make 36% of all psychological therapy referrals.
The rugby sessions aim to combat this by offering sessions based on well-being, mindfulness, stress management, emotional resilience, problem-solving, goal-setting, challenging negative thinking, anger management, work-life balance and others according to Happiful Magazine.
More than 300 men have taken part in these sessions since they started in April 2017.
Emma Goldsmith Health Programme Manager for Rugby League Cares states about Rugby League Cares:
“We decided a couple of years ago there was a real need within the sport around mental health, so we know that a lot of our players struggle with mental health but often don’t know where to go to find help.
“Particularly men in this country have a big issue around their mental fitness, particularly around low levels of confidence, not understanding when they’ve got a problem and not really knowing how to help a friend.
“We set up Offload at the start of 2017 and we’re piloting it at the minute with Salford, Warrington, and Widnes just to see if it works.”
For more information on how to take part visit the rugby league cares website now.
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