Jørgen Strand Larsen sees impact of Palace for Life mentoring: Premier League Inside Matters

“Inside Matters” will be visible at Premier League fixtures from 10-11 May ahead of UK Mental Health Awareness Week (12-18 May).

Watch below, where Jorgen Strand Larsen sees the impact of our mentoring programme, with participant Holly.

The League and clubs will use this period to help promote positive conversations around mental wellbeing, as well as highlighting the work carried out in communities and to support fans with their mental health.

Research conducted by the Premier League shows how football helps to connect people and start conversations. The League is encouraging fans to use their love of the game as a catalyst to reach out to fellow supporters, friends and family and make a difference to their mental wellbeing.

Supporting young South Londoners with their mental health

At Palace for Life, we have a team of experienced mentors who are able to offer young people unique insight into how to better their options and have a positive impact on their future.

Our mentoring offers support for those with challenging or complex life experiences; they may be vulnerable to exploitation and criminality, experience social isolation and exclusion, or have mental health needs.

One example is our mentoring programme, which supports young people aged 14 to 21 experiencing mental health concerns. Sessions are led by the young person and their mentor, creating space to talk openly about anything affecting them, whether that’s education, relationships, employment or their overall wellbeing. The programme has helped young people like Ted through difficult periods in their lives and supported them in finding confidence and direction again.

Elsewhere, our Football for Health programme has helped young people like DG, who used his love of football to rebuild confidence, improve his wellbeing and create a positive routine. Since joining weekly sessions, the 21-year-old from Croydon has made significant progress in his recovery and hasn’t required further crisis support, showing the positive impact football and community can have on mental health.

We also work alongside partners like Movember through the Ahead of the Game programme, delivering mental health workshops for young people, parents, coaches and teachers. Together, we’re helping more young South Londoners build confidence, understand mental health and access the support networks they need on and off the pitch.

It’s essential that our staff feel supported too, so we have several initiatives in place to make sure they’re looked after. We have a Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Steering Group that meets monthly to identify ways to develop and champion well-being initiatives offered by the Foundation, as well as a range of Mental Health First Aiders, who are on-hand to listen to colleagues’ mental health concerns and signpost them to helpful resources and services.

Working together with ‘Shout’

To help fans access professional support, the Premier League is collaborating with Shout, a free, confidential 24/7 text support service for anyone in the UK who is struggling with their mental health, run by the charity Mental Health Innovations.

Fans can text “SHOUT” to 85258 to receive round-the-clock support from trained volunteers, supervised and supported in real time by an expert clinical team.

Through the partnership, the Premier League is providing funding for Shout’s helpline services over the weekend and during Mental Health Awareness Week.

Supporters can find out more about the Premier League’s Inside Matters campaign here.