Celtic FC Foundation alongside Celtic FC is proud to support this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week which runs from May 10-16.

The campaign is run by the Mental Health Foundation and is in its 21st year. The theme for 2021 is ‘nature’ and the benefits it can have to improve mental health and wellbeing.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching implications on the mental health and well-being of people all over the country. Levels of loneliness, depression, harmful alcohol and drug use, self-harm and suicidal thoughts are all expected to rise throughout this difficult period.

We recognise the importance and severity of the current mental health crisis and are committed to helping those who are struggling at this time.

In support of Mental Health Awareness Week, here are a few ways in which Celtic FC Foundation are striving to tackle the ever increasing mental health and wellbeing issues faced by many of us:

Roch Talk and Glasgow’s Golden Generation
St Roch’s FC received £5,000 at the beginning of the year which helped to continue and expand their ‘Roch Talk’ project.

Roch Talk has already achieved great success in providing people with a safe, non-judgemental space to attend on a weekly basis.

Celtic FC Foundation’s other partner, Glasgow’s Golden Generation, also received a £5,000 donation which went towards their Befriending Service. It aims to support older adults over the age of 55 to reduce loneliness and isolation and is available across Glasgow.

All clients receive regular telephone befriending sessions and video befriending has been introduced, coinciding with the tablet distribution project aiming to connect older adults through digital interaction.

CashBack for Communities, Gateway to Employment
Funded by Scottish Government, our bespoke CashBack Gateway to Employment project is designed to help young people access employability and personal development support.

We have recently introduced a new delivery strand to the project which has allowed us to recruit an experienced Counsellor to work with our young people, delivering a combination of group work and intensive one to one counselling sessions.

You’ll Never Talk Alone
Our hugely successful You’ll Never Talk Alone project strives to tackle loneliness which is linked to the growing mental health crisis.

The project provides those people experiencing loneliness with a chance to socialise in a non-judgemental and safe environment.

You’ll Never Talk Alone will re-launch face to face delivery later this year, with a new Covid-19 friendly approach.

Speaking on Mental Health Awareness Week, Celtic FC Foundation Chief Executive, Tony Hamilton said: “Poor Mental Health is on the rise, and COVID-19 is making a bad situation worse for many people.

“The road to recovery will be a long one, however, the Foundation is committed to playing its part in tackling this issue in whatever way we can.”

For more information about this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week visit mentalhealth.org.uk/mhaw  or join the conversation on social media using #ConnectWithNature and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek or to access any of our projects please contact cfcfoundation@celticfc.co.uk

Celtic FC Foundation supports Mental Health Awareness Week 2021