Mental Health Awareness Week runs from Monday 10 May to Sunday 16 May 2021. The theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is nature.
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has hit communities across the world very hard, London has been no different. Many of our participants have already had issues with exclusion, which often leads to young people being led into gang culture to feel part of a community. The Office for National Statistics suggest that 25% of the population suffer from mental health related problems every year and that rates of depression amongst adults have doubled during the pandemic. We are continuing to put even more support systems in place to combat what is fast becoming a mental health epidemic throughout the UK.
Research by the Mental Health Foundation revealed that going for walks outside was one of the top coping strategies for people during the pandemic, and 45% of people reported being in green spaces as vital for their mental health. For many of us, having a football at our feet had the same impact.
We want to continue engagement with even more young people across London, providing opportunities to make the most of nature and the outdoors through a passion for football as we know physical activity is vital to good mental health. Kinetic will continue to encourage as many people to use their local parks, recreation grounds, cages and everything in between to enjoy the outside and nature for the benefit of their overall wellbeing.
It is ok, to not be ok.