Covid-19 FAQs Policies Safeguarding Adults Safeguarding U18s in open age football Social Media Guidance The Vault Local Safeguarding Support and Initiatives in Cornwall Play Phase Safeguarding 4-5 years Youth Footballers Hub

Mental Health Support

Mental health is one of the most important factors in our wellbeing. On this page you will find resources that can help if you or somebody in your life is struggling.

Mental Health First Aid training

 

Mental Health First Aid Training - Level 1
Monday 23rd October 2023
6pm-9pm
Online via MS Teams
£36 per person

If there is a safeguarding concern within your Club, everyone knows who to contact. Can you say the same if there is a mental health concern?

Mental health first aid training (MHFA) is a programme that helps to educate people on how to identify and assist someone who is suffering from a mental health or drug use condition.

The programme is intended to assist people in recognising early warning signs of mental health conditions, providing initial assistance and support to someone in difficulty and helping to connect them to external professional support.

 click here to book on

 

 

The Vault

Here at Cornwall FA, we want to offer support to all those in our community. For the 2023/24 season, Cornwall FA is offering three new mental health initiatives - see below for details. These three elements aim to raise awareness of mental health and provide resources to clubs, referees, players and volunteers.

 

1) The Vault

Cornwall FA has partnered with The Football Mental Health Alliance to offer access to The Vault, a pioneering mental health platform with comprehensive resources designed specifically for grassroots football.

The Vault contains expert-led, football-themed content in the form of interactive webinars, access to personal stories from current and ex-professional footballers, articles and infographics, a podcast, journals, mental health plans for Clubs to utilise, mental health first aid training and an upcoming conference, all designed to support mental well-being within the grassroots football community.

The Vault is for anyone involved in grassroots football at any level – players, coaches, parents/carers, spectators, volunteers and match officials.

 

2) Mental Health Workshops (Coming October 2023)

Cornwall FA have partnered with local Counsellors Bess Fox and Gary Wheildon to design bespoke mental health workshops for clubs across the County. The workshops are designed to provide support, guidance and raise awareness for coaches, volunteers and players of how to support individuals within their club who may be struggling with their mental and emotional health. The works shops will be interactive and we are really excited to start rolling them out.  

Delivery of these workshops will begin in October 2023 and continue throughout the season; more information will follow with details of how to sign up and how your club can host one. 

If you are interested in hosting one of the workshops please contact Richard Pallot on richard.pallot@cornwallfa.com or call 07581 4084480

 

3) Tackle & Talk (Coming January 2024)

In January 2024 Cornwall FA will be launching Tackle and Talk football sessions aimed at supporting individuals struggling with their mental health. The sessions will be an hour of turn up and play football with a qualified coach. Followed by an hour of mental health support, the sessions will change from week to week and may include grounding techniques and breathing exercises to help with stress or anxiety, an opportunity to talk to a professional Counsellor or group discussions. 

 Further details of Tackle and Talk including dates and venues will be released in early 2024. 


Get Involved!

There is clear evidence that regular exercise promotes good mental health. It can help to reduce the level of stress hormones in your body and stimulate the production of mood-enhancing hormones. Not only that, but the social side of football will get you out in the fresh air, forming friendships and helping to combat loneliness.

Getting involved with football is therefore a fantastic way of improving your mental health, no matter if you're a player, coach or volunteer.

You can find opportunities in your area using our Find Football tool, or check out our County Noticeboard for clubs looking to fill specific roles.


Resources and Support

Below you can find links to various sources of help, many of them local within Cornwall.

Invictus Trust

The Invictus Trust

The Invictus Trust is a local charity that aims to raise awareness of adolescent mental health and lobbies for better mental health services and facilities for young people in Cornwall.
Mind

Mind

Mind is a national charity aiming to make mental health an everyday priority. They stand up to the injustices – in healthcare, in work, in law – which make life harder for those of us with mental health problems. They also offer help whenever you might need it through information, advice and local services.

Support For Our Young Players

If you're a young player in Cornwall, check out our Youth Footballers Hub to find out how you can stay safe and keep enjoying your football.

Visit our Youth Footballers Hub here.

It doesn't matter if you play in youth or open age football - the Hub is the perfect place for all those under the age of 18 to get information.

ARA Gambling Toolkit

If you or someone you know needs help with gambling, Ara is here to help.

CLICK HERE

ALCOHOL & SUBSTANCE ABUSE

We understand it can be difficult to talk about addiction. Talk to Frank to find support near you, no matter where you are in Cornwall.

find local addiction supportThe Women's Centre Cornwall
Talk to Frank