'Attitudes are changing in football' say Hartlepool United as club support Mental Health Awareness Week

The club are set to team up with training provider Learning Curve Group to offer free online training in the hope of tacking mental health issues within sport.

It comes as part of Mental Health Awareness Week and is aiming to show that football players are interested in learning and talking about mental health.

Both Hartlepool United and Learning Curve Group recognise that through education and regular sessions to talk about mental health, the stigma can be broken and they want to encourage other football clubs to follow suit.

Dave Challinor, the manager of Hartlepool United, has explained the reason as to why the club has got behind the initiative following a recent workshop.

He said: “The mental health awareness session with Learning Curve Group was a great opportunity to get the team together and allow them to open up and be listened too.

“Talking about mental health used to be something that was frowned upon but now attitudes are changing in football, we want to look after our players’ mental health just as much as their physical health.

"Hopefully by our supporters seeing us do workshops like this, it will encourage them to learn about mental health and help break the stigma around it.”

The online courses cover various topics around the different issues of mental health, such as signs to look out for, triggers and symptoms along with how to support those who are struggling.

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