Mental Health Charter One Year Anniversary:

The Mental Health Charter for Sport & Recreation which was established in March 2015, now has 220 signatories. This charter celebrated its 1 year anniversary on the 15th March 2016.

Mental Health Charter for Sport Launched:

The Deputy Prime Minister The RT HON Nick Clegg MP helped launched the Mental Health Charter for Sport with the PPF Chairman at the Oval Cricket Ground in March 2015.

CLICK HERE to see the launch by The RT HON Nick Clegg MP

The Charter was developed in a partnership between the PPF, the Sport and Recreation Alliance, the Football Association and the mental health charity Mind. The country’s biggest sports governing bodies, including The FA, LTA, RFU, ECB and UK Athletics, have already signed-up as well as all the professional player associations including the PFA, RPA and PCA.

The Charter aims to tackle the stigma around mental health issues using the power of sport and recreation, emphasise the benefits to mental health and wellbeing of an active lifestyle and to encourage the wider sector to showcase best practice and to make real progress in tackling issues around mental health.

Every year, one-in-four people will experience a mental health problem. Yet it is still something much of the population is reluctant to talk about or address, with 90% of people with mental health problems having experienced discrimination. This is something that the Charter hopes to change.

Brendon Batson OBE, Chairman of the PPF said,

“We are proud that the player association have all signed up to the Charter. Players have a massive role in encouraging people to talk about mental health and wellbeing. This Charter will help to break down the stigma about mental health in sport and the PPF looks forward to playing its part in its implementation.”

Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation

Every year, one-in-four of us will experience a mental health problem. Yet it is still something the majority of us are loath to talk about or address.This is something that has to change.

We want to use the power of the sport and recreation sector to make our activities welcoming, positive and inclusive for everyone. That’s why the Sport and Recreation Alliance alongside the Professional Players Federation and with support from the mental health charity Mind, have created the Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation.

Our sports and recreational activities aim to create a welcoming, inclusive and positive environment for everyone – including our participants, professionals, volunteers and spectators. We want to encourage people to discuss mental health and also to seek help and support when it is needed.

To achieve our aim we will:

• Use the power of sport and recreation to promote wellbeing, with a special focus on encouraging physical activity and social interaction for their contribution to good mental health.
• Publicly promote and adopt good mental health policies and best practice within our sports and recreational activities.
• Promote positive public health messages using diverse role models and ambassadors to reduce the stigma attached to mental health problems.
• Actively tackle discrimination on the grounds of mental health to ensure that everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
• Support the establishment of a pan-sport platform to work closely with the mental health sector to develop and share networks, resources and best practice.
• Regularly monitor our performance, assess progress and take positive action on mental health issues.

The PDPA’s Action Plan:

To find out more or to add your support, visit:

www.sportandrecreation.org.uk/mental- health-charter
Twitter #SportMinds
Mind Website: CLICK HERE
Mind Hotline: 020 8215 2243
Our PDPA Action Plan on Mental Health for 2016 will appear here shortly