Men’s mental health charity Mentell announced today on their Facebook page that League Two promotion contenders Stockport County will be wearing tops with the Mentell slogan ‘men, is it time to talk?’ for the warm up before their final game of the season against Hartlepool, the first EFL club to show their support in this way. The initiative, in front of a sell-out crowd, and shown live on Sky Sports, aims to raise awareness about mental wellness and the support resources available to men through Mentell, who run free confidential talking circles both in-person and virtually.
The end of the football season can be a mental health trigger for those struggling, as sport, shared common interests, fresh air, and social interaction can all help alleviate symptoms, and the sudden withdrawal of them, along with potentially negative feelings around the club’s final league position, can exacerbate feelings of low mood and anxiety. The timing of this gesture is incredibly important as a result, and Stockport Mentell facilitator Matt Baxter hopes that raising awareness will help other fans know they’re not alone, and that support is available:
“Mentell believes we all have the answers to our issues, and the group gives you space to discover that through others’ stories, or just being able to talk.”
Matt first attended one of Mentell’s free talking circles just over a year ago, on the advice of his counsellor, and is now a facilitator, welcoming men across Stockport each week, regardless of which football team they support. Stockport County’s support of Mentell is not new – every Monday at 7pm they host Stockport’s group at Edgeley Park, providing not only the facilities but also tea and coffee.
“The club gets nothing back for this, it’s just giving without expectation of return.”
As Mentell is a registered charity, and the services they provide are free of charge, this level of support is essential to their sustainability, and ongoing provision, and evidences County’s investment in the local community’s mental wellness. Matt talks about how the Mentell approach is facilitative rather than prescriptive; the focus is on helping attendees find their own solutions within a safe space: “Everything is confidential, which is a foundation of everything…nobody has ever broken the confidentiality of the group…everything is heard without judgement or advice…you will never get advice of ‘you must do this’, or ‘you must read this book.” This non-confrontational approach goes against traditional perceptions of ‘therapy’ and ‘support groups’ which might have negative connotations, and highlights the importance of this partnership and the work both parties are doing to raise awareness about Mentell’s work.
“The group being at Edgeley Park made me feel safe”
Matt was initially very apprehensive about attending a group – he didn’t know anyone, and was very anxious about sharing his story, which he felt ‘ashamed’ of. But his experience of Stockport County as a longtime fan helped alleviate his concerns, and the location of the group helped immensely. Stockport County in the Community is a key area of focus for a club who is fan-centric, and committed to providing resources and support to the people of Stockport, and this support of Mentell clearly demonstrates the care they have for the wider community, which goes beyond the superficial, as Matt shares:
“I have seen men on the edge of suicide come back a week later with a smile on their face. This partnership is literally saving men’s lives…the club, through its partnership with Mentell, is changing the stigma around mens’ mental health. I have seen it, and I have lived it.”
Stockport County fans, like so many others around the country, have been acutely affected by the devastating impact of what has been described as a ‘mental health pandemic’, which affects men disproportionately. In 2021 there were 5,583 suicides recorded in the UK. 75% of those were men, and at least one was a County fan. According to Matt, “the best thing that County can do is keep reminding everyone that it is time for men to talk about mental health, and that groups like Mentell are here to help.”
Resources:
Mentell: https://www.mentell.org.uk/signup
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) – helpline and webchat resources: https://www.thecalmzone.net/
