World Mental Health Day

Today is World Mental Health Day. The theme this year is making mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority.

​Sport and physical activity in general boost our mental health. This summer, The Scottish Borders Joint Health Improvement Team joined forces with local rugby clubs to help raise awareness of the services on offer to support mental health and wellbeing in our region.

The partnership has worked across six clubs in the Borders: Kelso RFC, Gala RFC, Jed-Forest RFC, Selkirk RFC, Melrose RFC and Hawick RFC. Each club has taken part in activities to promote mental health and wellbeing as part of the ‘Kick Your Worries into Touch’ campaign.

To help open up conversations and address some of the existing beliefs around mental health, the Joint Health Improvement Team attended rugby 7s events across the Borders this summer alongside Breathing Space, Quarriers and Andy’s Man’s club. The aim was to get people, particularly young men, talking about mental health.

At Gala 7s, Gala Rugby Club players wore United to Prevent Suicide t-shirts with #tacklethestigma and #talk on the kit to show their commitment to preventing suicide and challenging the stigma surrounding mental health.

Each of the six rugby clubs within the partnership have also provided their players and staff with training in mental health improvement and suicide prevention. A few of the clubs have also developed support systems within their organisation and produced club-wide action plans around mental health and wellbeing.

Sometimes we all need a little extra help. Here are four things we can all do to support our wellbeing and kick our worries into touch:

• Access online self-help resources at NHS Borders Wellbeing Point
• Book an appointment with a local Wellbeing Adviser by visiting our website or calling 01896 824502
• Get support from others who might be feeling the same way using Togetherall
• Call Breathing Space emotional support helpline for a free and confidential chat on 0800 83 85 87

Dr Sohail Bhatti, Director of Public Health at NHS Borders, said:

“We all have an important role to play in suicide prevention and reducing the stigma that surrounds mental health, particularly men’s mental health. The only way we can stop that stigma is by encouraging people to ask for help. We are delighted to be working in partnership with local rugby clubs to normalise talking about mental health worries and getting people the help they need to support their wellbeing.”