Mental Health Initiatives Create Welcoming Dragons’ Lair, National Award

 

 

One of the world’s oldest football clubs, Sandhurst, have claimed a major off-field win. 

 

The football netball club won runners up in the Mental Health Category of the Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s Good Sports Awards.

 

The programs the Dragons have delivered are the Sport Focus partnered ‘Tackle Your Feelings’ and the Headspace Bendigo Junior Gala Day, both in 2021. 

 

President Mark O’Farrell said their mental wellbeing programs signify a big “shift” in mentality.

 

“Five years ago if you mentioned you’re going to run a mental health program the players would have all just shied away, but now they’re 100% active and all involved.” 

 

In addition, treasurer Peter Watson said everyone at the Dragons is able to get involved with their programs. 

 

“Between our footballers and our netballers, between our ladies and our gents, between our generations, we’re a community going all the way up from senior citizens to junior athletes.”

 

He said the program’s covered a vast “footprint” of the Bendigo community. 

 

Meanwhile, federal local member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters said it was great to see one of the most successful clubs “offer a range of programs to target mental health”. 

 

“I’d like to congratulate Sandhurst FNC on the initiatives they have rolled out to support the mental health of their players,” Chesters said.