West Bromwich Albion will be proud and privileged to welcome the Duke of Cambridge to the Club next week in support of the Heads Up mental well-being campaign he is leading.
Prince William, who is President of the FA, will meet members of our first team to talk about some of the pressures they face as players, and the impact these challenges can often have upon their mental wellbeing.
Alongside Head Coach Slaven Bilić, they will discuss the Heads Up campaign and the importance of encouraging more people – particularly men – to feel comfortable talking about their mental health, and feel able to support friends or family through difficult times.
The Duke will also spend time with young players from Albion’s Academy, and will join a session run by a first-team player on mental health. The Baggies have introduced these sessions to help equip their young players for their future careers, using senior players to pass on their experiences of dealing with life’s ups and downs. They will also share useful tools or tips to help them cope with the challenges and potential setbacks they may face in the future.
Heads Up is a season-long campaign spearheaded by The Duke of Cambridge which uses the influence and popularity of football to show the nation that mental health is just as important as physical health.
Club captain Chris Brunt: “We are obviously pleased and proud to offer our support to The Duke’s efforts. As we learn more and more about the importance of mental well-being, it seems clear that we should use the game’s profile to encourage everyone to talk about these issues."
Heads Up supports the important work which is already taking place across the UK to end the stigma surrounding mental health, and strives to raise awareness, spark conversation and signpost support for those in need.