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BWL is committed to using our sport to promote good mental health and wellbeing

Mental Health Awareness: Resources

You can find more resources at the bottom of this page.

Sport and Recreation Alliance's Mental Health Charter

The Charter sets out how sport and recreation organisations should adopt good mental health practice to make activities inclusive, positive and open to everyone. As part of this commitment, BWL is committed to:

  • Using our sport to promote good mental health and wellbeing
  • Adopting good mental health policies and best practices
  • Appointing ambassadors and role models
  • Tackling discrimination on the grounds of mental health
  • Supporting a pan-sport platform to develop and share resources and best practice
  • Throughout all of this we should regularly monitor our performance

Lifting and Wellbeing

Research suggests there are five ways we can all improve our wellbeing, why not give them a try?

1. Connect

Connect with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Why not lift with other people, whether it is a training session or club session, even saying hello to a fellow gym goer. It can all help your mental wellbeing.

2. Be active

Being active makes you feel good, and regular physical activity is associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety across all age groups. Weightlifting at any intensity will have beneficial effects on your mental wellbeing, not to mention the obvious physical benefits like improving your strength.

3. Keep Learning

Learning new skills or improving current skills can give you a great sense of achievement and confidence. Make time to try something new, rediscover an old interest or set a challenge you’ll enjoy. Make your goals realistic for your training, you don’t have to lift hundreds of kilos or a personal best every time. How about aiming to hit a lift consecutively?

4. Give to Others

Even the smallest act can count, whether it's a smile, a thank you or a kind word of encouragement to fellow lifters. Larger acts, such as volunteering at your local weightlifting club or at a competition at any level can be extremely rewarding.

5. Be Mindful

Try to be more aware of the present moment, including your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you. Some people call this awareness ‘mindfulness’. Getting in the gym and weightlifting whilst concentrating on that moment can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.

What if I need support?

 If you don't feel you can keep yourself safe right now, seek immediate help:

  • Go to any Accident & Emergency (A&E) department
  • Call 999 and ask for an ambulance to take you to A&E
  • Ask someone else to call 999 for you or take you to A&E
  • If you need urgent support but don't want to go to A&E, you could call Samaritans on freephone 116 123- they are always open and are there to listen
  • Contact your GP surgery and ask for an emergency appointment
  • Contact NHS 111 (England) or NHS Direct 0845 46 47 (Wales)
  • Contact your local crisis team (CRHT), if you're under their care

MIND have lots of useful information.  For further information on what to do if you need help, please visit the Mind website by click here

If you want to help someone else, please click here to visit Mind’s advice

You can also access mental health awareness training for the sport and physical activity sector at MIND elearning

Looking after your mental health and well-being during COVID-19

Find government advice on how to look after your mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 outbreak along with helpful contacts and websites here

Useful Resources

NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit Resources

Support and resources for coaches, staff and volunteers

 

Mental health awareness training

 

Support services for children and young people

 

Partners

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