Nick Keller: Welcome to Sport Industry Mental Wellbeing

Mental wellbeing is a crucial part of all our lives, and most of us have been touched by the reality of struggling, whether it is directly or otherwise. Luckily, we live in a world today where more people are talking. Now, Sport Industry Group want to facilitate more of those conversations in our industry.

We are incredibly fortunate to work in sport, a place full of wonderful people. Those that have built a career here have a certain quality that means we all deserve mutual respect. 

However, the nature of sport means that there is a certain cadence to pressure points. Media scrutiny, relentless schedules, type ‘A’ personalities, and the high stakes of agency life. This is played out against the backdrop of social media’s constant noise, economic uncertainty and geopolitical complexity.

Work forms a significant part of our lives, central to our routines and critical to our livelihoods. It is only logical that the work environment will impact one’s mental wellbeing.

There have been plenty of role models for fans and consumers to look up to. Prince William and Prince Harry have led campaigns, Tyson Fury, Simone Biles, Naomi Asaka, Helen Richardson Walsh have also courageously spoken out.

But we must encourage those out of the spotlight to be similarly engaged in the conversation.

Agencies, rightsholders, teams and leagues in one voice ensuring that we represent the best in class for an industry. Those that enter the industry with passion and hope knowing that speaking out feels easy, that knowledge is shared, and solutions around workplace stress are available.

Furthermore, the detrimental impact of poor mental health can in turn impact work performance, giving employers tangible benefits to prioritising placing mental wellbeing at the centre of their strategy.

So, as we launch Sport Industry Mental Wellbeing, we ask your organisation to join us in a discussion on how we can lead the way, in a time where mental health is becoming a fundamental issue affecting the country and business.  

Events, resources, courses and content will be available on this platform, and we will be looking for advocates, supporters and adopters. We encourage everybody to contribute to truly create a wellbeing hub for the industry, and by the industry.

Tragically, we are connected to far too many people who struggle. Let’s work together to change that, to find a way to make our industry a vital part of the solution, but also an industry that blends fulfilment, empathy and high performance for everyone who works in it.

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Please don’t hesitate to reach out for a conversation and if anyone would like to connect with professional resource please contact mark@wearebenchmark.com.