Tackling Mental Health through the TYF Program
MHSOBFC & TYF at training with 15 new footballs
As a community sporting club, the health and wellbeing of MHSOBFC players, coaches and support staff is of significant focus both on and off the football field. Over the past two months, MHSOBFC has partnered with the Tackle Your Feelings (TYF) program, increasing awareness and strategies to better support the mental health of our community. Our involvement in the program has been a fantastic opportunity to nurture and develop an environment in which people feel safe and comfortable to have constructive conversations about mental health.
In late April, MHSOBFC player leaders, coaches and committee members participated in an interactive TYF workshop led by TYF Program Manager Nick Walsh and Clinical Psychologist Bree Van Ryswyk from Healing Minds Psychology. The program aims to educate and inform people on mental health awareness, and how vital leaders within community sporting organisations can be in creating a safe environment for people to talk openly and honestly about their own mental health. The workshop was complemented by an online module provided through the Coach AFL platform, and a series of evaluations led by Monash University to help reinforce and build on these important lessons.
On Thursday 1 July, we welcomed Nick and Bree back to MHSOBFC training. Bree met and spoke to the Unicorns player group about the importance of identifying and managing the symptoms of poor mental health. Going forward, Bree will also act as the club’s point of contact for players seeking professional, personalised assistance with their mental health, and will be on hand at regular intervals at training sessions, games and other club events.
MHSOBFC coaches, player leaders and support staff have found the TYF program to be informative and useful, and the players will appreciate the 15 new Sherrin match footballs provided to the club as an affiliate partner of the program. On the back of the VAFA’s Mental Health Awareness Round last week, hearing from Nick and Bree reminded everyone of the importance of maintaining a supportive environment to help remove the stigma attached to mental health.
We’ll continue to share further updates on this important initiative, and inform members of the Unicorns family on tangible ways to access personal support for their mental health. For more information, please contact MHSOBFC Football Operations Manager Lachlan McKinnon on 0423 645 680.