Think Mental Health

WA Footy partner with Healthay to promote Think Mental Health. The Think Mental Health program is a community-based mental health promotion initiative that promotes positive mental health and wellbeing through a range of activities. The program is designed to support communities, workplaces, and individuals to improve their mental health and wellbeing.

Think Mental Health Round

Thanks to premier partner, Healthway, The Think Mental Health Round initiative is currently promoted across Country Football WA and WAFL competitions. The round aims to strengthen the strong connection between Country Football and the WAFL, while promoting mental health awareness. Research has found that connecting with players, volunteers and spectators has a positive impact on physical and mental health. In 2023, former Fremantle great, David Mundy laced up the boots to play for the Dunsborough Sharks as part of Think Mental Health Round.

Tackle Your Feelings 

The AFL Coaches and Players association in partnership with Zurich have established this community initiative, to educate and assist coaches to look after the mental wellbeing of themselves, their players and those involved in the Community Club environment.

Tackle Your Feelings aims to:

• Raise awareness and remove stigma association with mental health.
• Strengthen club culture and support a mentally healthy community through accreditation.
• Provide participants with confidence and skills to identify issues and access tools to proactively manage themselves and others.

A highlight of 2023 was a visit to the Western Australia wheatbelt. The 2023 Tackle Your Feelings Road trip brought together a comprehensive support package for 3 locations within the Wheatbelt. Country Football WA and TYF teamed up with the West Coast Eagles, West Perth FC, Holyoake, Regional Men’s Health Initiative, Healthway, and other local partners to enhance the programs impact.

Regional Men’s Health Initiative

Country Football WA and Regional Men’s Health have had a partnership promoting the Talk to a Mate® message for over a decade. 

The Regional Men’s Health Initiative’s primary role is to deliver community education and awareness programs on men’s holistic wellbeing and health. Talks can be tailored to suit a specific audience.

• Face to face workshops in regional areas
• Registered Charity 
• Regional initiative 
• Funding application 
• Evaluated program (2012 – 2018) 
• More info via - https://regionalmenshealth.com.au/ 

True Sport - Mental Health & Wellbeing Initiative  

True Sport is SportWest's mental health & wellbeing initiative to the WA sporting community. The initiative supports State Sporting Association and other sporting organisation staff to respond to mental health incidents and promote proactive mental health and wellbeing in community sport. Based on funding provided by the Mental Health Commission, The True Sport – Mental Health and Wellbeing initiative has been developed in conjunction with a mental health training specialist, utilising the expertise of a clinical psychologist from The Mental Health Project.

• • Visit the below links to find free resources and information regarding mental health and wellbeing in sport.
    • True Sport – Mental Health and Wellbeing Community Links - https://www.sportwest.com.au/true-sport-mental-health-and-wellbeing-community-links-2/
    • True Sport Mental Health and Wellbeing eToolkits - https://www.sportwest.com.au/how-we-help-mental-health-etoolkits/
    • True Sport – Mental Health and Wellbeing Initiative Video Library https://www.sportwest.com.au/true-sport-mental-health-and-wellbeing-videos/

Sports Chaplaincy Australia

For over 30 years, Sports Chaplaincy Australia has been caring for athletes at every level – both on and off the field by providing trusted pastoral care to invest into the complete athlete and their entire sporting community. They also provide a ClubCare Cover service.

When a club you represent has a critical incident, traumatic loss, suicide, severe injury or difficult moment, ClubCare Cover can provide the crisis support needed as soon as required. Too often coaches, managers and club officials are not equipped to handle all the life and wellbeing needs of their players, staff members and wider sporting community.

In the event of a crisis, you and all your association leadership need peace of mind. So, through ClubCare Cover, it’s reassuring to know you’re covered. And that’s through accredited sports chaplains who will provide that immediate, critical incident pastoral care for all the members of your sporting community as needed.

Learn more