In a progressive move to fortify mental health awareness and support across professional and grassroots sporting communities, the Australian Football League (AFL) has forged a strategic partnership with Orygen, the National Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health. Together, they have launched the second edition of the pioneering “What Works For Mental Health In Sporting Teams?” guide, designed to provide indispensable insights into best practices for mental health promotion and early intervention programs.
This comprehensive resource, now available free of charge to both professional and community sporting clubs and associations, seeks to empower sporting teams with expert knowledge rooted in robust evidence-based principles.
The second edition of this trailblazing guide follows the significant increase in mental health awareness initiatives offered to sports clubs since the release of the inaugural edition in 2020, which, to this day, remains unparalleled in its scope and utility.
In this latest edition, readers will find updated evaluations of existing mental health programs, as well as assessments of eight new programs. It stands as a testament to the AFL’s commitment to advancing the significance of evidence-based practices in the realm of mental health.
Professor Rosemary Purcell, Orygen’s Head of Elite Sports and Mental Health and the lead author of the guide, commended the AFL for its leadership in elevating the profile of evidence-backed mental health programs. She remarked, “The AFL has shown real leadership in not only promoting mental health awareness but also encouraging a focus on evidence-based solutions. Awareness is crucial, but it is equally vital that we transition from mere awareness to prevention and intervention, and programs designed to achieve these aims must undergo rigorous scrutiny and be underpinned by concrete evidence.”
Dr. Kate Hall, the AFL’s Head of Mental Health and Wellbeing, emphasized the pivotal role of football clubs and sporting teams in promoting mental wellbeing and preventing mental health challenges, particularly among young Australians. Dr. Hall stated, “The data underscores that rates of psychological distress remain high among young Australians, making it imperative to educate and empower young players in understanding mental health, recognizing signs of mental health issues, and knowing where to seek help, both for themselves and their teammates.”
She further highlighted the essential role of evidence in shaping the trajectory of mental health promotion and early intervention programs in sports. “Orygen’s research has shown us that there is still much ground to cover in establishing a robust evidence base to guide our mental health promotion and early intervention programs in sport. We hope the guide inspires sporting clubs and mental health programs to continue investing in program evaluation to strengthen the evidence base in this vital area.”
Among the notable findings in the guide, Movember’s “Ahead of the Game” program earned the distinction of being the first program to receive a full three-star rating. This recognition came as a result of at least three high-quality studies affirming the effectiveness of its workshops, which concentrate on enhancing mental health literacy and encouraging open dialogue about mental health among athletes, parents, and coaches. In response to these findings, the AFL is poised to partner with Movember to introduce “Ahead of the Game” to football communities nationwide, thereby extending its reach and impact.
