Mental Health
If you have concerns regarding anyone at your club and are not sure how to approach them, please feel free to give our County Safeguarding Officer, Charlotte Parkin, a call on 07562 693 541.
As individuals involved in sport, we understand the value of looking after our physical health. Sport encourages us to regularly assess and discuss the actions we take to maintain physical wellbeing. We need to shift our focus to openly give our mental health the same attention and care—without stigma.
Too often, the term ‘mental health’ is misused to mean ‘mental illness.’ Mental health, however, is something we all have. Just like physical health, it fluctuates from time-to-time and requires support and self-care, and sometimes even external help. By normalising conversations around mental health and wellbeing, we can hopefully change the narrative to understand that ‘it is ok not to be ok’, and it is ok to ask for help.
Below are some links (in orange) to avenues of support that can be accessed in person, online, or via telephone and help with a wide range of mental illnesses and feelings of poor mental health. However, if you believe someone however is in crisis and/or immediate danger, call 999 immediately!
Hub of Hope – the UK’s largest mental health support directory. Resources range from ways to maintain good mental health, to services to access in a mental health crisis.
Further Mental Health Resources
Amparo – provides confidential, dedicated support for anyone affected by suicide. They can be accessed via their online referral form, or by calling 0330 088 9255.
Andy’s Man Club – men’s suicide prevention charity that offer free online or face-to-face peer support groups.
Campaign against Living Miserably (CALM) – leading movement against suicide, the cause of 18 deaths in the UK every single day. CALM offers a series of supportive guides on how to support those who are feeling suicidal, as well as access to a helpline using 0800 58 58 58, a live chat, or by sending them a whatsapp between 5pm – midnight every day.
Lincoln Community Larder – a local charity aiming to reduce poverty in the Lincoln area through providing basic food and other basic amenities to those in need of short-term help.
Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Trust – targeted support for those suffering from anxiety or depression in Lincolnshire. You can self-refer online via their online form or call 0303 123 4000.
Mind – provide advice and support to anyone experiencing a mental health problem, including an A-Z of mental health illnesses.
Opening up Cricket – a charity focussed on mental wellbeing and suicide prevention, specifically within our sport. Their website has a wealth of resources available and signposting to external avenues of support.
Papyrus – Prevention of Young Suicide in the UK. The charity are dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people. They are available 9am – midnight every day at 0800 068 4141, via email through pat@papyrus-uk.org, or by texting 07860 039 967.
Samaritans – one of the main charities in the UK providing support to someone in crisis or emotional distress. Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by calling 116 123.
Steps2Change – a free NHS resource for people within Lincolnshire, offering both online and face-to-face counselling and a range of talking therapies. You are able to self-refer or attend your GP practice to ask for support with this referral.
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide – UK peer-led support available for any adults who are bereaved by suicide. The call line for support is 0300 111 5065 and is open from 9am – 7pm everyday.
Switchboard – one of the UK’s leading LGBTQIA+ support lines. You can access their support via calling 0800 011 9100, emailing hello@switchboard.lgbt, or chat with them via their dedicated chat line on their website.
Turning Point – offers help with drug or alcohol addiction, mental health challenges, learning difficulties, and sexual health support. Their location tool in the top-right hand corner can help you find your nearest local centre.
We are with you – a charity that specifically focuses on supporting people facing challenges with drug or alcohol addiction. You can register yourself for the service, talk to someone online via their chat options, and find further signposting for episodes of crisis.
Young Minds – provide young people under the age of 19 with tools to look after their mental health. The website contains a wealth of advice and information on what to do if you are struggling mentally, and they also empower parents to work with their young people to provide the best possible support network.
Mental Health Training Opportunities
We have sourced the following online training available free to cricket clubs that affiliate to Lincolnshire Cricket so that more people can receive some training in this important area.
Online Option 1 – from Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership – 2 x quick 1-hour modules
Visit: https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/safeguarding/lscp
Click on ‘Training Resources’, then ‘Register to access’ and key in your name etc. Then select ‘Lincolnshire Cricket’ from the approved group list (this will ensure that it is free to you), click not a robot.
When log in details have been registered, log in to https://safeguardinglincolnshire.vc-enable.co.uk and select the learning icon. A list of training modules available to you will be listed for you to select and complete including 2 Mental Health Courses (Looking After Yourself and Looking After Staff).
Online Option 2 – from Lincoln College – Certificate in Understanding Mental Health First Aid & Mental Health Advocacy in the Workplace – Level 2 (GCSE Equivalent) – 3 sections completed in your own time over about 4 week period. Manual provided and continued online assessments throughout the course. Click on the link to register directly for this: The Lincoln College Group | Online Applications and Enrolment
