Notts County Right Mind programme aiding women with mental health

Notts County supporter Helen King says she has the club to thank for transforming her life around after suffering from a nervous breakdown two years ago.

She has been helped through her recovery by the club's Right Mind programme, which is a free weekly session that helps women deal with the challenges of mental health issues.

"I have got ADHD and I have a lot of energy and needed an outlet," Helen said. "The programme at Notts County looked appealing and I am so glad I did it.

"I don't know how I'd have turned out If I hadn't have come across this."

Right Mind works with 15 women on a weekly basis and has had over 70 referrals since it began in 2014.

"It's great when you have people who you can be yourself around, I hadn't had that in so long that I forgot what it was like to be happy," Helen added.

The programme's director is Claire Wilmott, a former goalkeeper for Rise Park Ladies for 10 years.

A serious knee injury and six month recovery period led her into a coaching career, and Wilmott expressed her pride for what the project has achieved.

"The ladies, some of them who had gone off track, have now gone onto better things," said Wilmott.

"Some of them were used to living in a mental health hospital. They have now been released and are living their normal lives around family and friends."

The Right Mind Programme runs once a week, Wednesday 10am-11.30am at the Portland Centre on Muskham Street, Nottingham. They accept referrals from healthcare professionals as well as self-referrals.

The EFL is supporting Mental Health Awareness Week as the EFL Trust and the 72 clubs continue to work in this area using the power of football.