Just like physical health, everyone also has mental health and it affects how we think, how we act and how we feel. It also helps us determine how we handle stress, make life choices and is important at every stage of our lives from childhood all the way through to adulthood. Making friends, holding down a job, keeping fit, these are all normal parts of everyday life, but what happens when our mental health restricts us from doing these things and we begin to struggle with completing our normal daily routines? 

When we begin to find it difficult to manage our thoughts and feelings and we start to become overwhelmed with respect to daily stresses, this indicates we are developing signs of poor mental health.  We can become confused, feel fatigued and pull ourselves away from social situations. Sometimes we are unable to concentrate and become easily distracted. Should these feelings start to occur then it's time to try and do something to tackle the mind or reach out for help.

When early signs of poor mental health start to develop, early intervention is key to recovery. Early intervention can help reduce the impact of mental health problems and help build the tools required to overcome the issue. However, 90% of people with mental health problems experience some form of stigma which restricts them from seeking help or advice prolonging their recovery. More often than not, the stigma comes from a family member, a friend or a colleague. 

Kick Start FC aim to challenge this stigma by promoting their message of 'tackling the mind' and encourage people to take the first step into understanding and recovery. There is no widely accepted definition of the term recovery. What recovery looks likes or what it means is different for everyone.  ​For some people recovery means aiming to be symptom free. For others it might mean managing symptoms well enough to live a meaningful life.

Approximately 1 in 4 adults here in the UK will experience at least one diagnosable mental health problem of some kind every year. Mental Health doesn't discriminate and it can affect anyone, regardless of what your age, race, gender or social background is. Many of these people are people who we know and who we speak to on a regular basis. The common problems being Anxiety, Depression and PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).

The Kick Start FC football therapy sessions can help offer people an outlet for their mental health and provide them the tools to start taking control of their mental health. Through effective coaching and encouraging participants to get involved, Kick Start FC are helping people with their mental health, offering them a better social life and most importantly, helping people turn their lives around. The hardest part of the football therapy sessions is turning up.