August is “Peace of Mind month” for the group and kicked off with a talk from State of Mind’s champion Dr Phil Cooper MBE and former Rugby League international player Danny Sculthorpe.
Phil who has recently been awarded an MBE for his services to nursing said,”OUR TEAM OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SPORT PROFESSIONALS DELIVER COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION SESSIONS AT NO COST THROUGHOUT THE UK. OUR AIM IS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WITHIN SPORT AND BEYOND. IN FACT, THERE IS A COURSE ON MINDFULNESS AT THE HALLIWELL STADIUM TONIGHT SO OUR OFFLOAD SERVICES ARE RIGHT ON YOUR DOORSTEP.”
Danny Sculthorpe spoke about his Rugby League days that were brought to a traumatic end by a severe training injury. This led to a deep depression which he only started to come out of when he gathered his family around him told them what was on his mind.
He said, “YOU SHOULD NEVER FORGET THAT YOU ARE PART OF A TEAM BE IT A GROUP LIKE THIS OR YOUR FAMILY, TALK TO THEM. I WAS IN A MACHO SPORT WHERE ISSUES AROUND MENTAL HEALTH WAS NOT TALKED ABOUT, IT WAS VIEWED AS A WEAKNESS. YOUR BODY NEEDS TO BE FIT BUT YOU NEED TO ALSO HAVE PEACE OF MIND.
YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND TEAM MATES WILL NOTICE A BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE IN YOU BUT IF YOU DON’T TELL THEM WHAT IS GOING ON INSIDE YOUR HEAD HOW ON EARTH WILL THEY KNOW?”
The talk was followed by a Q&A session with members and speakers exchanging ideas and information about the highs and lows of the sport and of the mind.
If would like to arrange a free State of Mind session for your members you can get in touch via the contact page on the rugbyleague.www.stateofmindsport.org/
Details about Bipolar and the group can be found on the web site bipolar.org or call 0333 323 3880, membership is free and confidential.