Breathing Space and ‘Well Wednesday’

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Motherwell FC are encouraging Scots to take a break from their worries today (Wednesday 1st February) – the annual awareness raising day of mental health helpline Breathing Space.

The ‘Well Wednesday’ campaign is supported by Public Health Minister Michael Matheson and BBC presenter Kaye Adams and visited Fir Park as one of their touring van stops to promote the importance of good mental wellbeing.

Motherwell Manager Stuart McCall said “We have formed a strong partnership with Breathing Space and this an excellent opportunity for us as a Club to raise awareness about looking after your mental as well as your physical wellbeing. We try hard to help get health messages across to our fans as we are very much a community club. Hopefully we as ‘the Well’ can help to raise awareness on Well Wednesday”

Tony McLaren, Breathing Space National Coordinator said “We are delighted that Motherwell Football Club are supporting Well Wednesday, it’s great to see the manager Stuart McCall getting involved. Young men in Scotland often find it difficult to talk about their worries, which can sometimes mean problems build up. We hope Well Wednesday will encourage people to talk to friends and family or else phone Breathing Space if they are feeling low or anxious.”

Breathing Space is a free and confidential phone and web based service for any individual who is experiencing low mood or depression, or who is unusually worried and in need of someone to talk to. The service receives more than 6,000 calls each month, relating to a wide range of issues including relationship difficulties, stress at work, bereavement, isolation, loneliness and suicide.

More information on different aspects of mental health and wellbeing can be accessed through the new Mental Health and Wellbeing zone on the NHS inform website http://www.nhsinform.co.uk/mentalhealth.