Football and Mental Health
The term 'mental health' carries with it a number of potential interpretations, many of them used in negative connotations. Practical support for mental health issues and concerns was indicated at the Community Forum held at Pride Park Stadium in June 2004.
Roger Reade, the Chief Executive for Football in the Community suggested that in a world where players, managers and board staff come and go the only constant in football are the fans and the community. He went on to suggest that there are now new agendas arising where a club and the community can develop projects working in partnership in particular areas of common interest.
Bill McCauley, a mental health nurse felt that mental health, especially with young adults, was an area that could benefit from partnership working with the club in areas such as outreach work & support networks.
The potential for the club to help make a major positive impact on the community was confirmed by Sam Borrett, from Derby CVS/Derby Community Network, an organisation who represent hundreds of voluntary and community organisations across Derby, who in turn, represent people from all backgrounds with different needs.
Government and communities are beginning to wake up to the fact that one of the most effective ways of tackling mental health problems in a community may be to harness the power of the one thing that can bring people of all ages and backgrounds in a community together - their local football team.
Football supporters, by and large, continue to have a negative image and be presented in a very negative way by the media generally. Football grounds are essentially tribal areas where fans express their support for their heroes and antagonism towards the opposition fans in a cathartic, expressive way.
Live football is all about atmosphere and that is generated through the shouts, chants, songs and gestures of ordinary fans. By their very nature the chants songs and comments are often meant to goad the opposition in a system that is essentially "war without tears".
A recent study with Mansfield Town fans found an overwhelmingly positive view by fans for the fact that shouting, chanting, and it has to be said, swearing and abusing the opposition and especially the referee and linesmen, had a very positive effect on their mood and mental health in general.
Fans for example stated that:
"There are certain things which are associated with football which are not acceptable in general behaviour but they are acceptable there like if you stand up and swear at the referee you're probably one of hundreds whereas if you stand up and swear at somebody in the street well it's just you. Some behaviours at matches are sanctioned"
"I hate violence and most of that behaviour is a prelude to violence if you like and at a football match I can do it safely. I know swearing at a football match is illegal and you can get into trouble but you have to be going some so I go there and vent all the aggravation and frustration of the week and feel an awful lot better"
This kind of view about what football matches are actually for needs, of course, to be balanced against the fact that many fans who go to matches do not want to hear swearing or abuse on the terraces.
How to strike a balance is the very difficult task of the stewarding staff and managerial team at any football club. The key question for the club may well be, "what do our supporters view as being acceptable levels of behaviour at our stadium"
Sensory Garden Project
The DCCP are supporting staff at the Resource Day Hospital at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary in raising £2,500 to build a sensory garden for mental health patients.
The six staff are raising the funds themselves with help from a number of organisations including the DCCP. The garden is being designed by students at Derby College's Broomfield Hall and is due to open in April.
Derby County are helping with the fund raising with items for auction and through the DCCP are looking at ways of providing practical help with the building, opening and maintenance of the garden as well.
To make a donation or to help raise funds, please contact Nurse Anne Shead on 01332 362221 extension 8041 or write to her c/o the Resource Day Hospital, DRI, London Road, Derby, DE1 3QZ.
Project Thoughts Document.