High profile footballers and athletes at the Olympic Games are talking openly about prioritising their mental health, with the pressure to perform and high expectations often having a devastating impact.

Statistics show that 1 in 8 men have been through a mental health issue, with three out of every four suicides by men.

As we come out of the COVID pandemic, it has never been more important to highlight the issue and encourage men to talk. Ahead of the 2021/22 season, Salford City F.C. have teamed up with sponsor Health Assured, one of the UK’s leading EAP providers, to help raise awareness of men’s mental health with a new campaign – #NoSubstituteForTalking.

Featuring the 2021 first team squad, manager Gary Bowyer and owner Gary Neville, the #NoSubstituteForTalking campaign launched at Salford City’s first match of the season on August 7th against Leyton Orient, with videos being played on screens around The Peninsula Stadium and a social media campaign launching on the club’s channels. Further activities will take place throughout the season. Health Assured has created a free download for men who are struggling with their mental health, to assist them with getting the help they need in a quick and confidential manner.

Gary Bowyer, Manager at Salford City F.C. says: “Mental health is such an important aspect of everybody’s lives, and it is just as important to keep your mind as healthy as your body. We are delighted to be teaming up with Health Assured to share the message about the importance of mental health and encourage people to speak up. There is a perception that some people are immune to struggling with their mental health, but it can affect anyone at any point, and it isn’t a problem if it does, because support is there for everyone. All it takes is to start a conversation and talk about how you’re feeling with a friend, family member, teammate or Health Assured.”

Kayleigh Frost is Clinical Director at Health Assured. She says: “There is still a stigma associated with men’s mental health and quite often its assumed that if an individual is getting on with their day to day routine then they are okay – this is not the case. We need to be challenging the stigma, encouraging open communication by having regular welfare meetings and talking opening about mental health. We are delighted to be working with Salford City to prioritise this important issue.”