To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, Leeds Rhinos Foundation welcomed a very special guest speaker to their Offload men’s mental fitness programme, with war veteran Simon Brown leading a fascinating session at Emerald Headingley Stadium.
Brown, who is now captain of the Leeds Rhinos Physical Disability Rugby League team, shared his inspiring story with the group and opened up about his own struggles and mental health recovery.
This was the eighth Offload ‘fixture’ to be delivered by Leeds Rhinos Foundation, who have teamed up with Rugby League Cares to deliver the groundbreaking initiative across Leeds for all men aged 16 and over. At each session, men meet and talk with like-minded individuals and hear from current and former professional players to learn techniques they use to manage their own mental and physical fitness.
Over the course of the 10-week ‘season of fixtures’, men build their own mental fitness, whilst having fun, in a relaxed atmosphere and develop coping strategies to challenge difficult situations and learn how to recognise when people close to them may need their support.
Click on the video below to watch the best bits for this week’s Offload fixture and to hear from both course leaders and participants about how the programme has helped them to tackle their mental fitness and provide them with the advice and support to make positive progress with their wellbeing.
For more information about our Offload programme and how to get involved, please contact sam.horner@leedsrhinosfoundation.org.