As the most popular sport in the world, football unites people from different walks of life, provides a sense of community, and has a huge power to impact society in a way that nothing else does. Whether you are a footballer, an avid fan following every league match, or a skillful punter watching out for the best betting odds to make a winning stake, we all have the right to better mental health. Since any issue can be resolved only when spoken out, the football world keeps taking strides to help people feel well. Let’s consider how the sport contributes to mental health awareness among clubs and fans alike.
FIFA #ReachOut Campaign
FIFA started #ReachOut in 2021 in collaboration with WHO (World Health Organization). Supported by the European Commission, the campaign aims to raise people’s awareness of different mental health issues, encourage them to get help whenever they need it, and take steps to improve their well-being. Lots of FIFA stars participated in its launch, including Luis Garcia, Vero Boquete, Shabani Nonda, Laura Georges, Walter Zenga, and Fara Williams.
In addition, the #ReachOut campaign found support from ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). So, many past and present football legends from Indonesia, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand united to remind people about the importance of good habits. They also revealed various observation techniques to spot the signs of mental health struggles in friends, relatives, or teammates.
The organizers and players of the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Lithuania also made their contribution to the promotion of the renowned campaign.
FIFPRO “Are You Ready to Talk?” Program
The International Federation of Professional Footballers presented the “Are you ready to talk?” program in 2021 to improve the life quality of sports players and their performance on the pitch. These are the basic pillars it consists of:
- raising the knowledge about mental health disorders and the symptoms professional footballers may face during their careers
- organizing referral networks of dedicated mental health professionals to ensure every player can get adequate support in the moment of need
FIFPRO created a set of useful tools to help players achieve well-being. They also held different workshops for their member unions, teaching them to use the toolkit efficiently. Furthermore, FIFPRO released an educational video to enhance mental health awareness of footballers and encourage them not to suffer in silence, highlighting that talking about one’s own problems is not a weakness but a strength.
UEFA’s Initiatives
As the governing body of professional football in Europe, UEFA acknowledges the importance of addressing mental health challenges within the community. Therefore, they promote various initiatives to support the welfare of players, coaches, and fans:
- Education campaigns: designed to enlighten players, support staff, and coaches about the importance of getting professional assistance whenever a mental problem arises. Such campaigns also provide all the knowledge needed to identify the signs of struggles in others. Besides, UEFA encourages fans to be more empathetic to players and express their passion in a healthy way.
- Collaboration with mental health organizations: UEFA partners with a wide range of mental health organizations to deliver the most efficient support for football clubs. Thanks to these collaborations, all the initiatives are backed by expert knowledge and designed to handle the unique difficulties footballers encounter during their careers.
- Player support programs: the Union of European Football Associations goes to great lengths to create a supportive environment for players so that high-quality mental health care becomes accessible to everyone. Through these programs, footballers can access confidential helplines and professional counseling services.
- Initiatives for younger players: young footballers are especially susceptible to mental health challenges when they move from the amateur to the professional sports scene. Therefore, UEFA develops a range of educational and support programs to make this transition smooth and emphasize the importance of self-care from a young age.
