Wests Tigers today announced the Club has partnered with mental health organisation beyondblue for the next three years.
The new partnership will see Wests Tigers and beyondblue work together to raise awareness of depression, anxiety and suicide prevention in Australia and to reduce any associated stigma.
beyondblue provides information and support to help Australians achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live.
As a part of the new agreement, Wests Tigers will be beyondblue’s exclusive NRL partner in New South Wales with the two parties working together on a range of projects.
These include delivering mental health programs within the Wests Tigers community and also for all players and staff. The Club will take part in a beyondblue Cup in the years to come and heavily promote beyondblue’s support services.
Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe said that the Club was looking forward to working closely with beyondblue to raise awareness of mental health in the wider community.
“This partnership with beyondblue allows us to use our position as an NRL team to actively promote the great work that beyondblue do and help raise awareness of depression, anxiety and suicide prevention,” said Pascoe. “We’re in a position where we reach large numbers of people both in our community and across the country on a weekly basis and it’s great that we can use that position to promote a positive message.”
“We’re also set to provide mental health support and training to all of our players and staff which is very important,” he said. “Unfortunately this Club was touched by suicide in 2013 and we’re committed to ensuring that everyone in our care has the information and support they need to thrive.”
beyondblue Chairman The Hon. Jeff Kennett AC congratulated the Wests Tigers for making a commitment to mental health in their new partnership with beyondblue.
“I am very pleased to launch this new partnership, with beyondblue and the Wests Tigers working to promote good mental health both within the club and with its supporters over the next three years,” he said.
“We hope that NRL supporters will learn from our partnership to take care of their mental health and look after those around them.
“Evidence shows men are far less likely to seek help for mental health conditions than women, and three times more likely to die by suicide, so this partnership provides a great outlet to reach out through the familiar environment of the NRL.”
As a part of the partnership Wests Tigers have appointed two members of the Club’s leadership group, Chris Lawrence and Sauaso Sue, as ambassadors of the partnership, with beyondblue to be the Club’s major charity partner.
