On Tuesday 10th May between 6pm and 8pm, Dorset Mind and AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust are hosting a one-off event at Vitality Stadium for 18-24 years olds as part of Mental Health Awareness Week.
An important date in the mental health diary, the theme this year is loneliness. Loneliness is an issue that most people associate with older people. However, recent stats from the Office of National Statistics about children and young people, report that 9.8% of young people aged 16-25 feel lonely ‘often.’
To help tackle loneliness, Dorset Mind and AFC Bournemouth are inviting young people to take part in a 30–45-minute fun physical activity session at the stadium. The aim is to encourage them to step out of their comfort zones, socialise and learn something new. This session will be delivered by Community Sports Trust coaches.
After the activity, a short wellbeing workshop will be hosted by Dorset Mind’s expert training team. The objective is to get young people to better know their minds as well as their bodies. Covering topics such as the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ and the link between physical and mental health, the workshop will be supported by members of the AFC Bournemouth Women’s team, who will speak about their experiences of how football and physical activity has improved their mental wellbeing. This workshop will be held up in the corporate suites of the stadium, accompanied by refreshments and friendly Dorset Mind and AFC Bournemouth staff.
Steve Cuss, AFC Bournemouth’s Head of Community, spoke about the importance of tackling mental health in football.
“Physical and mental wellbeing and so interlinked and really important when it comes to our players and communities, particularly for young people. We’re so happy to be supporting Dorset Mind during mental health awareness week to help reinforce this message and to offer a chance for young people to connect.”
Linda O'Sullivan, Dorset Mind CEO, comments on the increasing prevalence of loneliness among young people and the importance of events like this that brings them together.
“We are so excited to be collaborating with AFC Bournemouth and look forward to supporting and helping young adults to understand the link between mental and physical wellbeing.
“After the pandemic and lockdowns, it’s even more important to encourage young people to connect and talk. Our event with AFC Bournemouth provides the perfect opportunity and tools for young people to start to make connections with their peers – and understand that talking about mental health should be as normal as talking about physical health.”
Dorset Mind delivers mental health education, training, and one-to-one and group support for adults and young people across Dorset. Visit Dorset Mind’s website to see what support they offer: https://dorsetmind.uk/help-and-support.
Help the charity fund their vital life-changing support by emailing them at: partnerships@dorsetmind.uk.