Sport for Change Network – Mental Health
Sport for Change Network
The aim of the Mental Health Network is to support clubs to better support their members, players, coaches or volunteers mental health.
Poor mental health is an important public health challenge and significant mental health inequalities exist in Scotland. Improving the mental health and wellbeing of the population is a national priority because this is recognised as having a positive effect on many different aspects of society.
In Perth, the Stronger Communities Network in August noted that support services had seen a noticeable increase in mental health issues with people, with third sector services stepping up to help those in need in the community. The pandemic and now the cost of living crisis is impacting everyone’s daily lives, mental health and wellbeing and services are struggling.
The Stronger Communities Network also noted that more needs to be done with children in school to support mental health and wellbeing (confidence, self-esteem), preventing issues later on in adult life – using a variety of early intervention and prevention approaches.
As part of the network, we bring clubs together to:
Clubs may also receive a grant to deliver a specific project related to the network theme.
Clubs that have participated in network activity
Network clubs are PACES registered:
Scotland’s Mental Health Charter for Physical Activity and Sport aims to empower physical activity and sport communities to improve equality and reduce discrimination, ensuring mental health and wellbeing is not a barrier to physical activity and sport.
The new initiative, which is part of the Charter, is aimed at club and community organisations and asks them to make four commitments around promoting inclusive practise and a welcoming culture.
