The Changing Room by Scottish Action on Mental Health is coming to Elgin City Football Club
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A FOOTBALL project designed to get men chatting about their mental health is relaunching in Moray.
The Changing Room, run by Scottish Action on Mental Health (SAMH), is a 12 week programme.
Based in a football setting, it uses ‘The Beautiful Game’ to get men together and allow them to open up about how they are feeling.
A few initial meetings at Elgin City have proved successful and an attempt is being made to roll it out to more men in Moray.
The group will kick off in earnest on Monday, April 29 from 6.30-8pm at Borough Briggs, home of the SPFL 2 side, in the downstairs sports bar.
Brian Johnston, the community engagement officer with SAMH who will deliver the project in Moray, said: “The Changing Room is a men’s mental health programme that allows men to come into a safe, non-judgmental space that allows them to listen or speak about mental health journeys they have been through or speak about lived experience which is important.
“Everybody has mental health, good, bad or indifferent. Football helps break the ice and people come for a tea or a coffee and a biscuit, and we subtly introduce mental health subjects.”
Courses in Aberdeen and Fraserburgh have proved popular and this is the first time it has been taken to a more rural setting.
“I have seen great success from the men who have been at Aberdeen and Fraserburgh. It has created support networks in communities,” added Brian, who is also an education officer with the Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust.
You can find out more and sign up to attend the project in Moray by emailing thechangingroom@samh.org.uk
