The SPFL Trust have announced Hibs’ Head Coach Neil Lennon as ambassador for their charity golf day in May at The Carrick by Loch Lomond.
The annual event, held in partnership with the Chris Mitchell Foundation,raises money for the provision of Mental Health First Aid Training for Scottish football clubs.
The training is part of SPFL Trust’s commitment to tackling mental health in Scottish football.
Neil first spoke out about his own battle with depression in 2014, and has openly spoken about the need for the stigma to end in Scottish football.
He said: “I am pleased to be in board as an ambassador for the SPFL Trust’s charity golf day in May.
“It is vital that players and staff alike know they have support around them and can feel comfortable talking about how they are feeling.
“The provision of mental health first aid training to clubs is a positive step in that regard – it will help break down barriers and give people the confidence to open up with friends and colleagues.”
The training, part funded by the Chris Mitchell Foundation aims to reach the milestone of having two people at every SPFL club trained in mental health awareness within the next two months.
So far, the mental health first aid programme has been delivered to 106 participants from Scottish football clubs.
In a recent survey of football clubs by PFA Scotland, 64% of respondents said either they or a team-mate had experience mental health issues, and almost 7% of those were identified as having significant issues.
SPFL Trust chief executive Nicky Reid adds: “We’re delighted that Neil Lennon is to join us to support our SPFL Trust Golf Day 2018. We aim to raise valuable funds to support mental health first aid training in Scottish football, and his high profile support is warmly welcomed.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
