Royals back 1Life campaign

For the second consecutive year, the Royals and our District clubs are joining forces the 1Life organisation to promote awareness of mental illness and suicide, which are significant issues facing our society.

It is important that we work together to increase awareness and provide support to those in need.

A dedicated “Royals 1Life Round” will be held Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd August, round 19 of the WAFL competition. East Perth will be playing Subiaco at Medibank Stadium.

The “Royals 1Life Round” aims to raise awareness of mental health issues and promotes the message that:

“It’s okay to talk...

- To your coaches;

- To your parents;

- To your team mates;

- To a counsellor;

...if something is wrong.

The football community is not immune to these issues; many in our community are dealing with mental illness or being confronted with the tragedy of suicide. However, the football community can act as an important vehicle to increase awareness, educate and support a diverse section of our population, (young and old; male and female). Football clubs bring people together, foster a sense of belonging, build self esteem and resilience, provide an important physical outlet and galvanise in times of need providing a strong and secure support structure.

The East Perth Football Community, consisting of the East Perth District Football Development Council, its affiliated junior and senior clubs and the East Perth Football Club, will partner with 1Life and the WAFC to promote the importance of mental health and wellbeing and raise awareness about mental illness and suicide prevention.

Teams from the Perth and Swans Districts playing in the cross District East Perth/Perth year 10 competition and in the Eastern Conference Year 11 and 12 competitions will also wear the 1Life armbands on this weekend as part of the campaign.

Prior to the Royals 1Life Round the WAFC will hold a Live Life Ambassadors Training workshop. District and Club stakeholders will be invited to attend to become local club ambassadors for this important issue.

Those who attend can play an important role in the week leading up to the Royals 1Life Round as well as throughout the weekend – acting as a support for the club as the 1Life message is promoted to club members.

Each club will be asked to convene all teams (comprising of players 15 years and up) at a training night in the week before the Round to explain the meaning of the round and why they will be wearing arm bands.

Respected businessman Peter Fitzpatrick chairs the state government’s Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention and has congratulated East Perth on the initiative.

“Suicide is preventable and the proactive stance taken by the WAFC and the East Perth Football Club through the Royals 1Life Round will help to save lives,” said Mr Fitzpatrick.

“We lose one person a day to suicide in Western Australia. It has overtaken the road toll and is now the leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 44. We need to be more open to talking about suicide and building greater community resilience for coping with anxiety and stress if we are to counter this significant threat to so many lives,” he said.

Support services are available from a range of organisations:

The Suicide Call Back Service provides free nationwide professional telephone and online counselling 24hrs, 7 days a week. Call 1300 659 467 or visitwww.suicidecallbackservice.org.au

Lifeline on 13 11 14

Youth Focus on 6266 4333 provides one-on-one free counselling to young people aged 12-18 who may be at risk of suicide, self harm and depression.