The Heads Up Weekend, taking place this weekend, 15 and 16 February, will see football unite by creating conversation around mental health and highlighting the power of talking as a way of supporting each other.
The Heads Up campaign is a joint initiative from The FA and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry’s Heads Together charity. Clubs across all levels of the game will feature Heads Up branding in their stadiums, programmes and kits in a unifying moment that aims to get the nation talking about mental health. Fans are encouraged to visit Heads Together for tips on how to #KickOffAConversation about mental health.
The Heads Up Weekend was officially launched at an event attended by representatives from Head 4 Health, a joint project between the City of Wolverhampton Council's Public Health team, Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group, the Premier League and Professional Footballers Association, recently.
Head 4 Health is aimed at men aged 18+, and enables them to improve their mental wellbeing through a variety of physical activity sessions, including football, cricket, walking and badminton, as well as workshops focusing on good mental health, alcohol awareness and coping with stress.
There is also a weekly drop in session for men to come and talk with others in a relaxed and informal environment and, at the end of the 6 week programme, participants will be invited to keep in touch by continuing to attend physical activity and drop in sessions. The majority of activities take place at Molineux Stadium, with others at locations around Wolverhampton city centre.
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "We are determined to do all we can to improve the mental and physical health of our residents.
“We know that around one in eight men in England have a mental health issue, but that they are often reluctant to discuss it, or to get help. Our local Head 4 Health programme, and schemes like the Heads Up Weekend, provide an opportunity for people to get talking, and to receive the support they need to improve both their mental and physical health."
For more information about Head 4 Health, please contact rachelsmith@wolves.co.uk or call 07532 411166.
