#TerraceTalk - Fan-Led Mental Health Campaign

[rob_fmttm]

Last night was the launch of #TerraceTalk a fan-led mental health campaign launched by the FSA and assisted by EFL and MIND.
I have written about it for a column in the Hartlepool Mail attached below. It will be many events over the next 12 months encouraging fans to come together, talk, listen, share experiences and coping methods and build up a toolkit and helpline contacts.
The starting point was about fans missing matchdays, the social aspects of their football game, something maybe Boro's virtual concourse is helping out with.
I know many people have been struggling out there and this initiative by fans for fans will hopefully help. Putting mental health on the agenda in fans groups around the country has to be a good start.

Fly Me To The Moon column: How football supporters are drawing during lockdown through new mental health campaign

Fly Me To The Moon column: Robert Nichols attended the lauch of the Football Supporters Association initiative #TerraceTalk, a fan-led mental health campaign supported by MIND.

www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk

 

[rob_fmttm]

Please do have a look into #TerraceTalk - and my article about it - but if you google #TerraceTalk it should take you to a discussion about mental health and football starting with a realisation that football fans like everyone else have suffered through isolation over the last 12 months. But this is a drive to recogise this and to help to do something about it. Starting off with listening or talking and there are many advice and help line contacts also as well as new initiatives. Boro's Virtual Concourse is of course one way in which a small group of fans can come together to recreate some of the big match build up. Very limited numbers but there are other schemes around. Everton Away Days are virtual get togethers for Toffees fans around the globe.
We might still not be able to physically meet up but platforms for people to chat - I suppose like this - can be very valuable to keep everyone joined up together.
Non league footballer, Danny Mills (no, not him) from Dulwich Hamlet was talking about what for him was the importance of keeping some routine, even if furloughed etc setting an alarm on a morning and on a day like this going out for walk and getting some fresh air and exercise.
Talking of which, I need to climb my stairs for the day in my staircasemountaineering challenge - and that was another tip from Danny, setting goals and challenges can help you get through the time. #TerraceTalk