Published:
10:31 June 28, 2022
Updated:
10:33 June 28, 2022
Norwich City fan Stephen Fry has teamed up with the Canaries to deliver a powerful message about mental health.
The former city manager narrated a video posted on the club’s official channels on Tuesday morning highlighting the problem in East Anglia and urging anyone suffering from mental health problems to seek help.
Fry spoke as a City fan and in his capacity as chairman of Mind, the mental health charity. The 2 minute 33 second clip revealed statistics showing that 518 people in East Anglia took their lives in one year, with the average age of the club’s season ticket holders among those most at risk.
City’s social channels posted a sneak peek on Monday afternoon with the words ‘Not Another Kit Reveal’ with Fry starting the video confirming that City’s new kit will be revealed on Thursday.
The club’s campaign, launched in conjunction with Norfolk and Waveney Mind, also includes moving individual stories from people directly affected by mental health issues.
“Each year, the demand for our services increases as more and more people seek support for their mental health,” said Sonja Chilvers, chief operating officer of Norfolk and Waveney Mind.
“As Norfolk and Waveney’s leading mental health charity, we support thousands of local people each year through our wide range of services and support programmes.
“Our goal is to make sure no one has to deal with poor mental health alone and through campaigns like this we can reach more people, encouraging them to talk about how they feel and ask for help.
“When you are managing a mental health problem, or supporting someone who is, having access to the right information and support is vital. From prevention support to crisis support, wherever you are on your mental health journey, we are here to help.”
Holly Leech, senior marketing manager for Norwich City, who helped create the campaign, added in the Canary Islands official site. “This campaign represents something bigger than the launch of our kit and something bigger than the club.
“Although mental health is now a much more talked about topic, there are still many who suffer in silence. The goal of this campaign was to guide people to where they can turn in times of crisis and to show our community how they can help the people around them if they need support.
“This is a topic very close to my heart, and with the support of many people at the club, we were able to create something to show how we can help step up the fight for mental health.”
Norfolk and Waveney Mind’s information and support page includes crisis resources, case studies, helpline contact information, and guides to support and services.
The clubs Community Sports Foundation it already has an initiative, called ‘Run For Me’ to support the mental health and well-being of people in Norfolk.
The sessions provide a friendly support group for their participants, giving them an outlet from daily stress, as well as being a great way to stay physically fit and healthy.
Starting in September, the foundation will launch ‘Play for me’, which follows a similar model, using football as a physical activity.
If you or someone you know needs urgent help, visit mind.co.uk for emergency advice.
