David Pierce|Siaw?Teng Liaw|Jennifer Dobell|Rosemary Anderson
Australian rural football club leaders as mental health advocates: an investigation of the impact of the Coach the Coach project
Federation University|University of Melbourne|Fairfield Hospital|UNSW Sydney|Federation University|University of Melbourne
mental ill health especially depression recognised important health concern potentially greater impact rural communities paper reports project coach coach australian rural football clubs setting football coaches leaders providing greater mental health awareness capacity support early help seeking behaviour among young males experiencing mental health difficulties especially depression coaches football club leaders provided mental health first aid mhfa training prepost measures ability club leaders undertaking mental health training recognise depression schizophrenia knowledge evidence supported treatment options confidence responding mental health difficulties obtained using questionnaire supplemented focus group interviews prepost questionnaire data players participating football clubs used investigate attitudes depression treatment options ability recognise depression clinical scenario key project stakeholders also interviewed club leaders n 36 trained mhfa club players n 275 trained participated evaluation 50 club leaders undertook training showed increased capacity recognise mental illness 66 reported increased confidence respond mental health difficulties others reported training built upon existing skills fulfilled perceived social responsibilities empowered indirect benefit club players approach seemed limited minimal changes attitudes reported players key stakeholders regarded project valuable rural football clubs appear appropriate social structures promote rural mental health awareness club leaders including many coaches benefit mhfa training reporting increased skills confidence benefit club players approach less obvious however generally positive findings study suggest research area desirable