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Leeds rugby put some muscle behind local campaign

Marco

Leeds Carnegie put some rugby muscle behind local campaign.

Mental health champions from across Leeds will be joining forces with Leeds Metropolitan University and Leeds Carnegie rugby team in their latest bid to tackle the stigma surrounding mental health.

Staff, students and volunteers from Leeds Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust and Leeds Metropolitan University will come together at Leeds Carnegie’s massive Aviva Premiership game against Leicester Tigers, on Sunday 13th February, to promote Time to Change.

The match will mark the beginning of partnership working with Leeds Carnegie and build on work between the local NHS Trust and Leeds Metropolitan University. The organisations will be working together to reinforce anti-stigma awareness amongst a typically hard to reach audience. The match will be the first of a series of awareness raising events.

The event has been brought about following anti-stigma work in the local community around Time to Change, the nation’s biggest campaign to challenge stigma around mental health. This event will look to challenge one of the last lingering taboos through social contact with Leeds fans in the lead up to the match.

The anti-stigma team hope to promote the relationship between physical and mental health. They also hope to raise awareness of mental wellbeing and decrease discrimination.

Marco Wentzel, Leeds Carnegie captain said: “Nobody is immune from mental illness. Having a mental health related illness is just as common as a physical health problem or a sports injury. I would like to encourage fans to support the Time to Change campaign. Help us tackle the stigma surrounding mental health."

Martin Hird, Senior Lecturer, Nursing, Leeds Metropolitan University said: “Our mental health nursing students frequently hear first hand of the damaging impact stigma has on people who are experiencing mental health problems. They have therefore been keen to volunteer to be part of this exciting campaign.”

Chris Butler, Chief Executive at Leeds Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust said: "Each and every one of us will be affected by mental ill-health at some point in our lives. We want to encourage rugby fans to look after their own mental health and to look out for friends, neighbours, colleagues or loved ones that may be in need of support.

By working with our partners across the city we hope to promote a community where mental health conditions are seen and talked about openly like any other illness.”

To find out more about Time to Change go to www.leedspft.nhs.uk

Ends

For more information and to schedule interviews or filming please contact:

Gemma Wharton
Senior Communications Officer
Leeds Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust
T: 0113 305 5976
E: gemma.wharton@leedspft.nhs.uk

Notes to editor:
About Leeds Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust:
Leeds Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust is a teaching organisation providing specialist mental health and learning disability services to the people of Leeds and the UK.
www.leedspft.nhs.uk

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