Movember teams up with the GAA and GPA to launch Ahead of the Game campaign
Movember, has partnered with the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) to launch the nationwide initiative, Movember Ahead of the Game.
How we do it
Movember Ahead of the Game is a series of interactive workshops, delivered by the players of the GPA, which takes place throughout the upcoming season. The initiative will teach young players, parents, coaches, and volunteers to understand mental health, build mental fitness, and strengthen resilience to deal with challenges in sport and life.
" 92% of young athletes felt more confident in recognising the signs of mental health in themselves and others. "
But why?
75% of mental health disorders will have emerged before the age of 24. That’s why conversations about mental health and fitness earlier in life are important. Helping young people build the skills to look after their own wellbeing, and support their teammates, is critical to lifelong mental resilience and mentally fit communities.
Involving the sporting communities
The Movember Ahead of the Game initiative will support 10,000 young players, parents, and coaches in more than 200 GAA clubs to take part in Movember's mental fitness programme, Movember Ahead of the Game, which teaches an understanding of mental health and helps build the mental fitness to deal with the challenges life and sport can throw.
The legendary leaders
The GAA joins the ranks of leading global professional codes like the AFL and Premier League in launching Movember Ahead of the Game in Ireland. It puts Ireland and the GAA among the leaders globally in actively supporting mental fitness as much as physical performance.
25 current and past players and coaches have recently undertaken a weeklong rigorous training program led by Rugby League Cares and SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) some of the names include Domhnall Nugent, Iggy Clarke and Jo-Hanna Maher.
The interactive workshops are delivered in the familiar surroundings of a sports clubs, which allow players to feel comfortable to talk freely. It also gives coaches and parents bigger roles, too, in helping create mentally fit communities.
Feeling better
92% of young athletes felt more confident in recognising the signs of mental health in themselves and others. And 96% of coaches saying they felt better able to respond to the mental challenges of young athletes after attending our program.
Visit Movember Ahead of the Game to learn more.