When it comes to taking care of mental fitness there is a disconnect amongst men, with 31% of men opting for football as a way to manage their mental health as opposed to talking to friends.
The NIVEA MEN Head Skills Academy is the first ever football training camp that equips grassroot captains with the right tools to incorporate mental fitness into their football teams whether they lead local, five-a-side, university or work-place teams. The training day which takes place in Birmingham on Tuesday 8th November, is designed to help the captains see the value in communicating to their teammates, both on and off the pitch and learning the skills to incorporate mental fitness into their regular practice. The eleven lucky captains will get the opportunity to spend a day with Birmingham City FC captain Troy Deeney, mental health advocate and broadcaster Roman Kemp and Talk Club, to develop their mental fitness and utilise the skills learnt with their own teams back home and beyond.
For a chance to be involved, grassroot football captains can apply here:
Thirty-five per cent of men reveal they actively avoid conversations about their mental wellbeing – suggesting that the stigma about keeping your feelings to yourself remains. New research commissioned by NIVEA MEN1, reveals nearly half (45%) of men aged 18-24 strongly agree that football is a great way to strengthen male communication. Football has always been more than just a game; it brings people together and gets them talking, and now NIVEA MEN wants to put this combination into a league of its own, giving grassroots football captains the tools to help start and maintain conversations.
“I think we underestimate the power of checking in with ourselves and with others. Too often we get caught up in our own lives and rarely have the time to be still and check in, but eventually our mental wellbeing catches up with us physically and ultimately can affect your game. I’m constantly advocating for positive change in the face of male mental health, so I’m really proud to have been asked by NIVEA MEN to help lead the Head Skills Training Academy – and maybe even learn a thing or two as a captain myself.”
Troy Deeney, Birmingham City FC captain
The NIVEA MEN survey revealed:
- Two thirds of men believe playing football with their friends improves their mental health
- Nearly half of men surveyed (47%) believe playing football is a chance to bond with friends, whilst 31% of men opt for football as a way to deal with their mental health as opposed to talking to friends.
- Reaching out has negative connotations in men’s minds with many equating vulnerabilities with weakness – 41% of males believe football is a great way to strengthen male communication
- Nearly half (47%) of men said they feel less comfortable asking other men about their struggles and 44% have never opened up to someone about how they are feeling
What happens on the training day?
NIVEA MEN will welcome the captains to the training ground and introduce them to the premise behind the campaign and how they’ll be put through their paces on the day, before opening the floor to Troy Deeney, Roman Kemp and the male mental health charity, Talk Club. Talk Club will provide mental fitness training, based around their Talk & Move programme drawing on the insight that sports and football are an effective means through which men feel comfortable communicating. The training will include mental fitness drills to help foster a positive and supportive team dynamic for the grassroot captains.
Troy Deeney will highlight the importance of his captain’s role, representing a leader both on and off the pitch helping to bring men closer together and promote a strong team dynamic. Broadcaster, and existing Strength In Numbers brand ambassador Roman Kemp, alongside Troy will be sharing insights and personal experiences with the selected grass roots captains to help frame the narrative around encouraging men to talk about their feelings.
The training camp will end with a 6-a-side football match to put into practice some of Talk Club’s training tips, with Troy and Roman each captaining a team.
Earlier this year NIVEA MEN launched its Strength in Numbers mental fitness campaign, together with Talk Club. They believe that simply checking in with someone by asking ‘How are you? Out of 10?’ could change someone’s life and are passionate that this should be a normal part of our everyday routine to help support a healthy mental fitness routine.
The camp is the second phase of the campaign, which is helping more men to check in with their feelings by asking themselves, and others, the simple question:
“How are you? Out of 10?”
This question is part of a set of tools that encourages men to be more self-aware and maintain their mental fitness, just as they might look after their physical fitness.
“Checking in with yourself and those around you with a simple question…How are you? Out of 10? helps us all stay connected and supported and build upon our mental fitness that ultimately will prevent ill mental health.”
Gavin Thorpe, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Talk Club
NIVEA MEN is committed to driving real change for men’s mental fitness by championing a simple way of thinking that uses numbers to help more men and boys talk about their feelings and ultimately help care for their mental health. It’s important to recognise that if you or someone you know is struggling to cope, they should call Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK and ROI) or contact other sources of support, such as those listed on the NHS’ help for suicidal thoughts webpage. Support is available round the clock, every single day of the year, providing a safe place for anyone struggling to cope, whoever they are, however they feel, whatever life has dealt them.
