As we enter mental health month (October), Netball ACT is pleased to partner with the primary local mental health and well-being education provider across the Canberra region - Mental Illness Education ACT (MIEACT). Releasing a series of video’s and resources on the Netball ACT App, getting the netball community thinking and talking not just about their on-court skills but strengthening mental health awareness for individuals and teams.
The ACT theme for mental health month is – Conversations and Connections. Given the adjustments, uncertainty and ever evolving plans 2020 has thrown at us all, taking the time to have conversations and create connections with those around us has never been more important. Netball ACT and MIEACT encourages the Canberra community this Mental Health Month to engage in conversations around mental health.
Research shows the psychological and emotional benefits for participation in sport, including reducing the risk of depression and anxiety, building social connections and purpose, and improving communication skills, resilience, and self-esteem. Netball ACT recognises that whilst participation in sport enhances these factors, we also need to have increased awareness, open communication, and encouragement to better understand mental health within our community and remove the stigma around these conversations.
Nicole Bowles, General Manager – Operations and Sport is thrilled to have partnered with an amazing local business such as MIEACT to increase mental health awareness and discussion within the netball community:
“We are ecstatic to partner with local Canberra business MIEACT to assist the netball community in enhancing our knowledge of mental health and hopefully starting some critical conversations across the community”
“The Netball ACT App has been a wonderful resource for the community to access information regarding practical netball skills and through our partnership with MIEACT we are pleased to provide resources around supporting athletes, building resilience, performance under pressure and planning wellbeing for performance.”
MIEACT CEO, Heidi Prowse praised Netball ACT for their initiative:
“This is a great initiative by Netball ACT to create an environment of positive mental health and wellbeing in their sport and we are delighted to be part of it. Young people have an emotional readiness to participate in sport, especially at a grassroots level, so it can be a place where changes in emotional wellbeing may be noticed first.
Providing education to meet players, their coaches and athletes where they are empowers a whole community response to support each other on and off the court and how to connect people to local service providers, should they need it.” Prowse said
To access the mental health resources and more download the Netball ACT App for free today via the apple or google play stores.
