Kicking Goals For Players Wellbeing
A community development project to support Mental Health and
Wellbeing in the Rochester Community.
Julie Bright: Mental Health Carer Support Worker –
Bendigo Health
Background:
•Bendigo Health Carer Support Services - Mental Health
Program - funded by FaHCSIA in 2008.
• Program covers Loddon Mallee Region and provides
individual direct support to carers and community
development initiatives.
•The program has consulted with mental health carers through
out the region
•Consultations have identified gaps in services which
underpins our strategic planning for the region.
Gaps in Service
• Limited services for families where a young person is experiencing
complex issues including.
• Family breakdown, school refusal, isolation from peers, drug and
alcohol dependency, diagnosis of mental illness and disability.
•Multiple family issues including: family breakdown,
intergenerational mental illness, domestic violence, grandparents
looking after their grandchildren full time.
Gaps in Service Continued
• Workers and Carers identified that improving mental health
wellbeing was vital for these families.
• Intervention needs to be accessed early to prevent family and
mental health breakdown.
• Carers identified that if services such as schools, sporting
clubs and local communities were able to recognise and
respond to issues effecting young people, their mental health
outcomes could be different
Aim
To provide support, through
development of a mentoring program.
This includes individualised support to
players and their families, at the
Rochester Football/ Netball Club to
enhance good mental health &
wellbeing.
Objectives
• To provide support to players, including their parents & family members,
who may be at risk of developing mental illness or dependent behaviour
such as gambling, self harm, substance abuse etc.
• To support players at risk of isolation from their peers and the wider
football community
• To support players at risk of disengaging from sport
• Promote positive social interaction & support players to engage in their
community
• To support players to develop skills, strategies & confidence when
transitioning into elite football or back to local league level.
• To improve the emotional wellbeing of all players.
• To promote the importance of ‘sport’ in local communities
• To provide educational opportunities to de-stigmatise mental health and
risk dependent behaviours
Target Group
• Teams
– Under 16’S,
– Under 18’S,
– Senior Playing group
• Players at risk of dependent behaviours and
self harm
• The wider community e.g. parents, committee,
members and netball teams
Expected Outcomes of mentoring program
•
•
•
•
Build a stronger football/netball club
Enhance leadership within the club
Build a stronger Community
Enhance players skills – physical, mental &
psychological
• Implementation:
•
•
•
•
•
Approval
Approached the Rochester Football/Netball Club – spoke with President, senior coach, football manager –
to see if a mentoring program would be beneficial to the club.
The program was discussed at committee level for approval
•
•
•
Sourcing a Mentor
Made contact with Bob Fletcher (perspective mentor) – CSS Mental Health Worker was aware that he was
previously mentoring at TAC cup & AFL level.
Bob agreed to come on board to support the players, as a mentor
Obtained personal references for mentor
Ensured all key stakeholders had ‘Working with Children’ checks
•
Mentor commences with program - 2012
•
CSS Mental health worker and Gilbert Wanganeen Social & Emotional Wellbeing Worker Njernda
Aboriginal met to discuss mentoring program to ensure it was inclusive of indigenous players. Gilbert has
offered to be involved.
•
CSS Mental Health Worker met with coaches & mentor to identify players at risk & possibly needing
support
Mentor engages with football community - attends games, communicates with identified players
(including injured players) to establish rapport & trust
•
Expected Outcomes of mentoring program
•
•
•
•
Build a stronger football/netball club
Enhance leadership within the club
Build a stronger Community
Enhance players skills – physical, mental &
psychological
GOALS
ACTIONS
Build Self-Efficacy
‘A persons’ belief about his or her ability & capacity
to accomplish a task or to deal with the challenges
of life’
www.businessdictionary.com
o
o
o
o
o
o
MEASURES
Match ‘mentor’ with players to build a respectful & trusting relationship
Mentor creates a ‘presence’ around the game on game days
Mentor watches games
Contacts all injured players at time of injury & f/up contact
Individual phone calls to f/up on player well-being
Provide 1:1 support & group mentoring
Mentor works with players to set personal goals & strategies to improve
their wellbeing
Provide education to players i.e.. self esteem, well-being, resilience ,
stress management and dealing with change
Increased attendance rate (willingness or interest in
attending ) at training/games/club events & activities
Notable change in individual perspective/
or mindset – positive outlook & approach
Less anxiety, stress, enhanced ability to deal with change
more effectively
Less likelihood of evidence of ‘depression’
Improved self-worth, self esteem
Enhanced skills & improved overall performance
Promote positive Social Interaction &
Connectedness
Include all players in all education sessions offered @ the club &
encourage attendance in Thursday night dinners
Develop possible peer support via senior players mentoring other
players
Feeling of belonging – ‘team player’
Commitment to the club, the sport & peers
Possible improvement in overall performance of a team
Encourage Participation
Provide financial support to maintain as club member
Provide financial support for at risk players to attend games or training
Transport assistance (car pooling )
Regular attendance at games/training/club events &
activities
Volunteering ?
Mental Health First Aid offered to club members
Provide Safe Talk – Lifeline
Educate players & football community re: substance misuse through 1.5
hour education session
Less likelihood of, or decrease in, substance misuse
Improved body image & self worth
Better overall health, fitness & wellbeing
Increased knowledge of services for support?
Media promotion
Continue to develop & maintain relationships & partnerships with wellbeing coordinators, football club committee members, parents, families
etc
Educate players & football community re: substance misuse through 1.5
hour education session
enhanced - club reputation
support & interest from community shown by possible
increase in ‘crowd’ attendance & possible sponsorship/s
inclusive & supportive community living – individuals feel
‘safe’ & supported by their community
Provide Education
Build Community Awareness
Importance of ‘sport’ in community
To de-stigmatise mental health & risk
dependent behaviour
Outcomes
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
AFL Mentor available for whole of 2012 football season
Research project completed on elite players
Mental Health First Aid to whole community
Assist training for whole community
Training session with Anthony Stevens (former AFL) player for all football, netball
players and committee on mental health and wellbeing
Drug and Alcohol training from ERH for Netball Players
Successful funding for program from BH CSS, DH and SOC.
Two new mentors joining the program for 2013 season
Anecdotal young people at risk have re-engaged with club
Raised awareness within the wider football community around mental health and
wellbeing