IT was a colourful lot of games this weekend as Golden Rivers teams celebrated inclusion and paused to remember mental health in the combined headspace and Pride Round.
In Woorinen, there were rainbows all around – from the umpire’s flags and footballers’ socks to the free scarves and beanies on offer from the Swan Hill District Health (SHDH) team.
Even the sky pitched in – with a faint rainbow providing the backdrop for a great day.
While the themed rounds were not planned to coincide, the combination is sadly fitting.
According to the Pride in Sport report, 87 per cent of gay men are completely or partially “in the closet” while playing youth sport compared to 55 per cent of those in the Australian corporate sector.
Many fear discrimination from other players, coaches and officials, while 75 per cent of people believe an openly gay person would not be safe as a spectator at a sporting event.
Headspace point to research that shows that young people who identify as sexually and/or gender diverse are at a higher risk for mental health challenges due to experiences of discrimination, exclusion and prejudice that results in social isolation.
Pride Round hopes to bring the sporting culture forward and make sure every player feels welcome on the field or court.
Local mental health staff were also on the sidelines as headspace handed out flyers to promote better awareness of mental health.
Headspace youth worker Kathryn Hindle, psychologist Celeste Costa and Kerang-based youth service coordinator Jim Hirst were on hand to help facilitate the round.
“The kids are really keen,” Mr Hirst said as children milled around the headspace tent.
“And not just for the freebies but for the questions (mental health themed conversation starters),” he said.
And the journalist became the interviewee as a number of youngsters bombarded The Guardian with questions such as, ‘who would you go to if you were struggling or how do you destress’?
SHDH health promotion officer Alice Cronin and dietitian Kerrie Tournas were also at the match to talk with spectators about LGBTQIA+ inclusion with fact sheets on gender and sexuality diversity.
Once again, the kids were the biggest fans of this initiative, and young people all rainbowed up could be seen lining the boundary line and the netball courts.
“At headspace Swan Hill we are absolutely committed to ensuring all young people have the tools and confidence they need to be more proactive and open in managing their mental health and wellbeing,” said headspace Swan Hill Senior Clinician, Kirsty Jacobs.
“Simple tips like staying connected to others, building coping strategies, doing things you enjoy and sleeping well, can all play a vital role in building resilience and maintaining a healthy headspace.”
The round’s themes sought to highlight the importance to young people of creating meaningful connections within their sporting lives and beyond.
“We know that football and netball clubs are extremely influential on young people, offering a strong sense of community and belonging,” said headspace community engagement worker Kathryn Hindle.
“While young people may appear confident on the outside, creating new connections and reaching out to others can often be scary.
“We are encouraging families, friends and sporting communities to reach out to each other and focus on building strong relationships, so that everyone can experience a sense of belonging and community.”
