RAMS RFC are delighted to announce they will be working with Berkshire-based charity Brave Mind in a bid to actively deliver training and mental well-being support for club members, playing and non-playing respectively.
It is estimated one in four people will experience a mental health illness each year in the UK. For these people, the pressures and strains of life and work can act as a catalyst to mental health problems, with the most common being depression and anxiety.
And the charity, set-up by Henley RFC stalwart Si Trower, aims to make talking about and supporting each other in the rugby community the norm.
Explaining why he launched Brave Mind, Trower said: “I am an ex-rugby player. From the age of six, I have spent much of my life being part of the rugby community, playing minis and juniors all the way through to seniors at Henley and most recently, helping at another fantastic club, Maidenhead RFC.
“Since an early age, I have experienced – and still do experience – different levels of depression and anxiety.
“I have undergone various treatment methods, from trialling medication to attending sessions with a clinical psychologist.
“I live with it every day, and through my personal experience I have designed a range of coping strategies, one of them being making sure I talk to people/family when I feel low.”
He continued: “Rugby was always a good form of personal therapy. I left things off the field and enjoyed the release on it.
“Looking back on this now, this was very much a temporary fix for me. I was putting on a front, hiding behind ‘the banter’, when deep down I yearned for real connections and to be myself.
“Life is moving on and I am pleased to see the stigma towards mental health is changing, especially in sport.
“I’ve always wanted to try and help others and having completed a Mental Health First Aider course, I’ve decided to create a support network, primarily focussed within the rugby community.
“At Brave Mind, we will make talking about and supporting each other with mental health the norm.
We are about getting into action, working with rugby clubs and schools to put mental health at the heart of their community. Awareness is great but action is greater. It is essential.”
Reflecting on the partnership, Rams CEO Gary Reynolds, added: “I’m constantly reminded of the impact of this pandemic and the devastating effect it’s had on people’s lives.
“Although this season we have been able to enjoy the sport we love, the scars of long periods of lock-down and continuing uncertainties are ever-present.
“We hear a lot about mental health, and we need to know how to help and support people in the right way.
“For me it’s been a relief to see and hug people again, but we want to make absolutely sure Rams’ players and members aren’t struggling in silence.”
He continued: “Brave Mind have done some brilliant work educating the rugby community on mental health and helping people struggling to recover from a range of afflictions, including depression and anxiety.
“We are delighted they have agreed to help improve awareness at Rams and support club members who need to speak to someone who will understand what they are going through and help them on the road to recovery.
“We look forward to working with Si and the Brave Mind team.”
