"Coach the Coach" is an innovative initiative of FamilyCare, training sporting coaches on Mental Health First Aid.
Essentially the program used the football team structure to effectively reach young men in rural towns, to increase recognition of mental health conditions and encouragement of both self help, professional help seeking behaviours and decrease suicide rates.
We are passionate and excited about the program and we partnered in with the Goulburn Valley Football League (GVFL) and the School of Rural Health (Uni. of Melbourne) based in Shepparton.
"Coach the Coach" (CTC) aims to reach young rural men aged between 15 – 30 years through an innovative grass roots approach delivered through a medium that they already respect and listen to – their sports coach.
This program was successfully piloted with the Goulburn Valley Football League, which spans from Echuca in the north, Seymour in the south, Mansfield in the East and Rochester in the West, with Shepparton the hub. The University of Melbourne, School of Rural Health Research Department located in Shepparton, externally evaluated the program.
Due to the success of the pilot program Coach The Coach was rolled out into the Murray Football League and the Heathcote & District Football & Netball League.
Mental Health First Aid 12 hour Course
The Mental Health First-Aide 12hr Course is now open to all people (male & female) involved in a Sporting Organisation.
The Course aims to raise awareness of depression and promote good mental health within the club and the community.
Mental Health First Aid training aims to provide members of the public the skills to identify signs and symptoms of mental health problems and provide assistance in crisis situations, as well as the ability to encourage individuals to seek appropriate help. Mental Health First Aid is an established early intervention program developed in Australia in 2001. For further information please refer to www.mhfa.com.au
DEFINITION: Mental health first aid is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until appropriate professional treatment is received or until the crisis resolves.
Mental Health First Aid Course Content - “ALGEE”
Particular focus on the following themes:
- Assessing the risk of suicide or harm;
- Listening non-judgementally;
- Giving reassurance and information;
- Encourage person to get appropriate professional help;
- Encourage self-help strategies.
Mental health problems covered:
- Anxiety disorders;
- Substance use disorders;
- Depression;
- Psychosis.
Crisis situations covered:
- Person who is suicidal;
- Person having a panic attack;
- Person who has just experienced a traumatic event;
- Person who is perceived as threatening;
- Person who has overdosed.
Patron - Steven King
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The issues of mental health, depression and suicide are already well known as a problem in the country. We are seeing so many rural men – brothers, sons, fathers, friends and team mates losing their lives and the resulting devastation of their families and friends.
Coach the Coach is a fantastic preventative program that uses the local football structure and respected footy coaches to increase recognition of suicide risk and encourage both self help and professional help seeking behaviours to decrease suicide rates.
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I grew up in Shepparton, and as a local and a football player I am very excited to be a part of the program and can see the enormous benefits this program will have in the region. Coach the Coach has the potential to reach such a large amount of people, not only football players but their family and friends.
Coach the Coach will create sustainability and build capacity within a number of towns including Benalla, Echuca, Euroa, Kyabram, Mansfield, Mooroopna, Rochester, Seymour, Shepparton and Tatura.
I fully endorse this program and encourage others to get behind and support it.